Austin Feeney’s late touchdown earns Morris win

Updated: October 14, 2011 11:54PM

Morris quarterback Austin Feeney told the coaches at halftime Friday night that he could run the ball out of the shotgun formation. He was right.

Feeney raced 58 yards untouched up the middle with 7:36 to play to give unbeaten Morris a 14-10 victory over visiting Rochelle in the Northern Illinois Big 12 East.

“Great blocks, I didn’t get touched,’’ Feeney said. “Greg Struck had the lead block and all the linemen got their guys and did their job.’’

Tackles Jimmy Pelnarsh and Jacob Thuente, guards Preston Miracle and Colton Buhle-Rutz, center Craig Claire and Struck at fullback sprung Feeney for the go-ahead touchdown.

“It’s just something we recognized in how they were aligning to us,’’ Morris coach Alan Thorson said. “There’s a lot of different plays we can run out of our spread formations.

“Greg Struck came up and made a great block on that and the right side of our line opened up a nice hole. It was a well-executed play.’’

Morris (8-0, 4-0) didn’t let Rochelle do the same with its next possession. Danny Friend, Hunter Barry and Pelnarsh dropped quarterback Nick Moore for a 2-yard loss on first down at Rochelle’s 26. A 1-yard gain and an incompletion led to a punt.

“Our defense did enough to not let them take the lead again,’’ Feeney said.

Morris running back Jeff Perry (93 yards, 9 carries) rambled 47 yards to tie the game 7-7 with 3:25 left in the first quarter one play after his 28-yard run on first down.

Rochelle (5-3, 1-3) put together a 15-play, 8-minute drive in the second quarter that stalled at the Morris 20-yard line on back-to-back incompletions.

“That’s a good team, they’re a real good team,’’ Thorson said. “I give those kids a lot of credit. We saw it on film. They come off the ball and they fight you.’’

Will Metzger had an 8-yard scoring run and Eric Duthie kicked a 35-yard field goal for Rochelle.

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