T-bird football ends season on high note

Michael Jasper

The Thunderbirds offense lit up the sky Dec. 1, with a dominating 47-31 win over the Fort Scott Greyhounds in the Valley of the Sun Bowl. On this overcast Saturday, the defense provided the thunderous bang to stifle one of the best offenses in the country.

On the first drive of the game the T-bird’s opened up the scoring with a little bit of trickery on a 17-yard touchdown toss from running back Jay Leal to receiver Bryce Wilkins.It was one of two phenomenal touchdown receptions for Wilkins, who finished the game with 3 rec for 41 yards and a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.It took T-birds quarterback Dax Crum until the second quarter to settle down and find his groove, proving so after a first quarter interception that was returned for a touchdown.”He puts so much pressure on himself that it normally takes him a quarter to settle down, and then he’ll play great,” head coach Dan Dunn said of his quarterback.

Crum finished the game with 386 passing yards on 22 of 29 passing and was awarded the games MVP.The Thunderbirds closed out the first half with a quick and efficient drive ending on a 35-yard strike to All-American receiver Terrance Moore.Moore finished with a gaudy line of 7 receptions for 151 yards and 3 touchdowns in his best performances of the year.

The Fort Scott defense needed all 11 players on the field to bring down tight end Micah Parker who would finish with nine receptions for 146 yards and one touchdown.Halfback Jay Leal controlled the running game for the T-birds with a solid 81 rushing yards on 15 carries and a touchdown pass.The second half was all about the MCC defense led by linebacker Zach Hernandez’s nine tackles.

All-American defensive back Jamichael Hall’s interception in the fourth quarter also proved lethal for it immediately took away the Fort Scott momentum. After the game there was talk that Coach Dunn will be retiring after this year.”I’m still figuring it out. But as of now I would say I am not going to return,” Dunn said.This could be considered Dunn’s best year as head coach at MCC since he returned here in 4shared pc 2003.”What makes this team different from others in the past is how everyone has stepped up throughout the season. You never know who it will be game in and game out, but you just know that someone will,” said Dunn.The Thunderbird finish one of the best seasons in recent memory with a 9-2 record and the number eight ranking in the country.

 

  • Mesa Legend Staff

    These are archived stories from Mesa Legend editions before Fall 2018. See article for corresponding author.

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