Addison Trail can’t come back for win
Morton scored 3 touchdowns in the first quarter against Addison Trail on Friday night in a West Suburban Gold battle at Morton’s West Stadium, holding on to win 20-6.
“Have to give credit where credit is due,” said Addison Trail coach Paul Parpet. “We had some injuries, some ineligibles, but you have to come out and play and tonight Morton played better.”
Addison Trail quarterback John Taylor was both the first- and second-string quarterback for the Blazers. Taylor was also the leading rusher for Addison Trail.
Sophomore quarterback Anthony Stanciu played his first game as quarterback for Morton.
“I wanted to play quarterback since the beginning of the year,” he said, “so I always kept it in the back of my mind.”
Morton (2-3, 1-2) scored first halfway through the opening quarter on the first of two touchdown runs by Mustang running back O’trell Jones, a 22-yard run with just more than five minutes left in the quarter. Jones later ran it in from 50 yards out with less than a minute left in the period.
In between Jones’ two touchdown runs was a 43-yard touchdown pass from Stanciu to receiver Tevorri Thomas.
The Blazers weren’t giving up, however. They recovered a Morton fumble on the Mustangs’ 13-yard line. A sack and penalty gave the Blazers a fourth down back on the 22. Morton’s Emil Johnson then picked off his first of three passes in the end zone and ran it back to the 23-yard line.
“He’s been in position several times to come down with the interception,” said Morton coach Bob Organ. “I kept telling him to stay in position and he would come down with the ball. Tonight he was on. Give him credit.”
“We were watching their film and noticed that they always throw to Javvion Bradley,” Johnson said. “Every pass I intercepted was thrown to Bradley.”
When Addison Trail (1-4, 0-3) had its best drive of the game, a 79-yard drive taking up most of the third quarter, Bradley wasn’t even thrown the ball. Taylor hit Anthony Nasti with a big 26-yard pass and Pat Gorniak with three big passes down the field before Alex Glowacki punched it in from the one for the Blazers only score.
“I’m really happy for our kids,” Organ said. “The coaches put together a great game plan and the kids executed it. We had a great week of practice. The kids never gave up. They deserve this win.”