Stout defense, physical run game propel MFL MarMac past Ed-Co

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MFL MarMac’s ground game was one reason for the team’s 22-14 win over Edgewood-Colesburg on Oct. 30. The Bulldogs combined for 357 rushing yards, including 154 yards and a touchdown from fullback Gabe McGeough (22)—an effort that put him over 1,000 yards on the season. Running back Cullen McShane had already hit that mark, meaning MFL MarMac has a pair of 1,000-yard rushers for the first time in school history. (Photos by Audrey Posten)

“Our backs ran hard,” against Ed-Co, said MFL MarMac head coach Dan Anderson, “and the linemen were firing off and doing enough to hold their blocks against a fast, physical team.” Hunter Meyer, shown here blocking for running back Cullen McShane, was part of that effort.

The Bulldog defense, including freshman Wyatt Powell, limited the impact of Ed-Co’s all-state-caliber quarterback Parker Rochford.

Cullen McShane (left) and Gabe McGeough celebrated the victory with a handshake.

By Audrey Posten, Times-Register

The MFL MarMac football team extended its playoff run Oct. 30, using the combination of a stellar defensive effort and physical run game to defeat Edgewood-Colesburg 22-14.

“These are the exciting ones you remember,” said head coach Dan Anderson. “We knew it would be a good game that, if everyone played well, it would be a one-score game. And it was.”

“Too bad one team had to be done,” he added. “These are two really good football teams. I have a little empathy—we’ve been here before. We know what it feels like and it hurts.”

MFL MarMac defenders kept the Viking offense contained through much of the opening half, allowing only a Keegan Hansel touchdown late in the first quarter that propelled Ed-Co to a 7-0 lead. 

Unfortunately, the Viking defense was just as stingy, keeping the Bulldogs out of the end zone until just 20 seconds remained in the second quarter, when senior Max Havlicek scored on a quarterback keeper. The extra point was unsuccessful, leaving the Bulldogs down 7-6 heading into halftime.

“We had a hard time getting the ball going in the first half,” Anderson said. “But I’m proud our kids didn’t get rattled when [Ed-Co] scored first. Our kids stayed cool.”

At halftime, Anderson commended the team’s effort.

“They were kind of shell-shocked, but I said, ‘That’s a heck of a first half, guys,’ and they kind of perked up,” he shared. 

Junior running back Cullen McShane said the team appreciated their coach’s confidence: “He told us, ‘It’s fine. We’re in it. It’s one point and still our ball game. We just have to come out.’”

Right out of the gates, the defense made a big play, as Kaden Stocker intercepted a pass by Viking quarterback Parker Rochford.

Following a scoreless third quarter, the Bulldogs finally broke through offensively just seconds into the fourth, on a McShane 13-yard touchdown. He also added a two-point conversion that gave the team a 14-7 advantage.

Ed-Co countered the move a minute later, when Rochford weaved his way 25 yards to the end zone. An extra point knotted the game at 14.

MFL MarMac broke the tie at the 8:13 mark, with a two-yard touchdown run from fullback Gabe McGeough, followed by a Havlicek two-point conversion, which made it 22-14.

With less than two minutes remaining on the clock, the Vikings had pushed the ball past the MFL MarMac 30 yard line and were threatening to drive farther when Bulldog freshman Wyatt Powell batted down a Rochford pass on fourth and two.

The Bulldogs back in possession, McGeough sealed the victory with a big 13-yard run on third down and 12.

“I think this is awesome,” McShane said of the win. “We have a really young team and had to get the jitters out a bit. But after halftime, the jitters were out and we came ready to fight.”

Anderson said a big key to the second half success was the Bulldogs’ ground game. The team combined for 357 rushing yards, including 160 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries for McShane. McGeough touched the ball 28 times, picking up 154 yards and a touchdown—an effort that put him over 1,000 yards on the season. McShane had already hit that mark, meaning MFL MarMac has a pair of 1,000-yard rushers for the first time in school history.

“You could see [Ed-Co], they were getting frustrated. They couldn’t get a stop,” Anderson said. “It wasn’t that we were running different plays. As a coaching staff, we did a better job finding the weaker of the two defensive linemen or defensive ends and trying to get an advantage of where we were going to run the ball. We were making good fakes. Our backs ran hard and the linemen were firing off and doing enough to hold their blocks against a fast, physical team.”

Anderson credited the team’s receivers, as well.

“They don’t always get all the catches, but they’re doing a good job blocking downfield,” he noted.

Havlicek threw the ball only nine times against Ed-Co, completing four passes for 45 yards. He also ran the ball six times for 28 yards and a touchdown. McShane caught one pass for 20 yards, and Karter Decker snagged an 18-yard reception. 

Just as impressive, said Anderson, was the Bulldog defense, which limited the impact of all-state-caliber QB Rochford. He was 9-28 passing for 96 yards, and ran the ball four times for 59 yards and a touchdown. Stocker and Havlicek each picked him off.

“I told our guys, ‘Understand, whatever scheme we run, he’s going to get loose on us a couple times. We just can’t let him run loose for 250 yards.’ We were able to do enough to keep him corralled,” the head coach stated. “The defense really came ready to play football.”

Decker was the team’s tackling leader, with 7, while McShane tallied 6.5, McGeough 3.5 and Stocker 3.

Now, the Bulldogs will turn their attention to the Friday, Nov. 6 game at undefeated St. Ansgar. Anderson likened the team to MFL MarMac’s Oct. 23 opponent, East Buchanan, but “on steroids. They’re bigger and faster.”

“But there’s a few things we’ve seen we think we can attack,” he remarked. “They’ve given up some points this year, which is different from last year. We’re excited about the opportunity.”

Havlicek said the Bulldogs look forward to the challenge. 

“We’ve gotten a lot of doubt since last year. But we had the same goal in mind all season, and that was to get to the Dome,” he shared. “We brought in a great freshman class and a lot of them are playing. Everybody is stepping up and we’re believing in ourselves. It’s great to prove the doubters wrong.”

It’s all part of establishing a winning tradition at MFL MarMac.

“Every year now, guys are just going to step up into positiond. We’re going to keep this tradition going of winning,” Havlicek said.

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