Morris holds on to top Richards

Updated: September 2, 2011 10:34PM

The last football game between Morris and Richards ended with Richards celebrating the 1989 Class 4A state title with an overtime victory.

Twenty-two years later, Morris didn’t need overtime to decide this one. The visiting Redskins led 28-0 going into the last minute Friday before two late Richards’ touchdowns turned it into a 28-16 final.

“I’m extremely happy with how we played,’’ Morris coach Alan Thorson said. “I’m frustrated with how it ended. That was a very sloppy 30 seconds of football. But that’s a good Richards team.’’

Morris senior running back Jake Ruettiger opened the second half with a 57-yard run down the sideline to give the Redskins a commanding 21-0 lead. Ruettiger (nine carries, 153 yards) added a 48-yard scoring run later in the third quarter.

“We were working on going upfield and having the blockers upfield,’’ Ruettiger said. “And that’s what we did. I told Preston (Miracle) and Jimmy (Pelnarsh) on the sideline, if I have to cut back, I’m following you two all the way.’’

“We’ve always known he’s had that kind of speed,’’ Thorson said of Ruettiger. “And Collin Grogan came into his first varsity game and really stepped up.’’

Morris (2-0) led 14-0 at halftime after recovering two Richards fumbles and turning them into touchdowns in the second quarter.

Nik Countryman’s fumble recovery with 2:23 left in the first quarter led to a 61-yard Morris drive that ended with Grogan’s 5-yard touchdown run. Ruettiger set up the score with three carries for 38 yards on the drive.

Morris’ Jake Hogan recovered a loose ball when Richards fumbled a fair catch on a punt with 5:04 to play in the half. Grogan scored from 13 yards out on the next play and Fernando Del Toro kicked his second extra point.

“We talked about it all week--we can’t turn the ball over,’’ Richards coach Tony Sheehan said. “They (Morris) got a lot of turnovers last week. But we come right out and turn the ball over.’’

Defending South Suburban Red champion Richards (1-1) plays at Lemont next week before the Bulldogs open their Red schedule Sept. 16 at Shepard.

“We’ve got to bounce back real quick,’’ Sheehan said. “We’re going to Lemont next week. It doesn’t get any easier.’’

Brian Hettiger and Darrow Traylor had short TD runs for Richards at the end.

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