Moberly picked up a road NCMC win in a tense, evenly-matched contest tonight in Marshall.
After a scoreless first quarter, Moberly kicked a short field goal for a 3-0 lead. Marshall drove inside the Spartan 5 yard line but was stuffed; and the Owls could not convert a 27-yard field goal as the score remained 3-0 at the half in favor of Moberly.
The third quarter was more of the same, as Marshall was able to slow Moberly's running attack, and Moberly had shut down Marshall's passing game. Moberly finally attempted a pass on a 4th down near the Marshall 25 yard line, only to see it deflect off of the receiver and into the hands of a Marshall DB who was playing in a cast. The Owls defender ran it back the 75 yards for an apparent touchdown, only to see it called back to midfield on an extremely questionable holding penalty after the INT.
Moberly finally opened the door for the Owls in the fourth quarter. Their center had been bouncing snaps back to the QB all game, and it finally resulted in a fumble that Marshall recovered near the Moberly 30 yard line. Marshall hit a long pass down to the 1, and then punched it in on 3rd and goal to take a 7-3 lead with a little under 7:00 to play.
The Owls joy was unfortunately short lived. Moberly's kick returner was called for a 15-yard penalty for hurdling defenders on the return, seemingly setting up Moberly in poor field position. But on the very first play from scrimmage, the now-pumped-up Owls defense over-pursued on the option and Moberly's QB Stoneking raced for the 74 yard TD with about 6:30 left.
Marshall was forced to punt on its ensuing possession, and threw an INT on its next possession in Moberly territory to seal the game with about 2:00 left. After three timeouts and a defensive stop, Moberly was forced to punt one last time, but Marshall's punt returner was injured attempting to field the punt, muffed it, and Moberly recovered to seal the game.
After a scoreless first quarter, Moberly kicked a short field goal for a 3-0 lead. Marshall drove inside the Spartan 5 yard line but was stuffed; and the Owls could not convert a 27-yard field goal as the score remained 3-0 at the half in favor of Moberly.
The third quarter was more of the same, as Marshall was able to slow Moberly's running attack, and Moberly had shut down Marshall's passing game. Moberly finally attempted a pass on a 4th down near the Marshall 25 yard line, only to see it deflect off of the receiver and into the hands of a Marshall DB who was playing in a cast. The Owls defender ran it back the 75 yards for an apparent touchdown, only to see it called back to midfield on an extremely questionable holding penalty after the INT.
Moberly finally opened the door for the Owls in the fourth quarter. Their center had been bouncing snaps back to the QB all game, and it finally resulted in a fumble that Marshall recovered near the Moberly 30 yard line. Marshall hit a long pass down to the 1, and then punched it in on 3rd and goal to take a 7-3 lead with a little under 7:00 to play.
The Owls joy was unfortunately short lived. Moberly's kick returner was called for a 15-yard penalty for hurdling defenders on the return, seemingly setting up Moberly in poor field position. But on the very first play from scrimmage, the now-pumped-up Owls defense over-pursued on the option and Moberly's QB Stoneking raced for the 74 yard TD with about 6:30 left.
Marshall was forced to punt on its ensuing possession, and threw an INT on its next possession in Moberly territory to seal the game with about 2:00 left. After three timeouts and a defensive stop, Moberly was forced to punt one last time, but Marshall's punt returner was injured attempting to field the punt, muffed it, and Moberly recovered to seal the game.
