Playoffs a new experience for current Morrison Mustangs

After a 6-year hiatus from the playoffs, the Morrison Mustangs are happy to be back. The fact that they get to host a first-round playoff game after running the table in the regular season is just some really sweet icing and a really tasty cake.

One of the fun parts about a Week 10 game is the chance to see a totally new and unfamiliar team, and the Mustangs are certainly getting a strong dose of that experience.

When Morrison coach Ryan Oetting saw the Ridgewood Spartans come up opposite his team during the IHSA playoff draw on Saturday night, he was left wondering about the opponent.

“They were on our radar as a possibility for us to play, but we didn’t know a heck of a lot about them,” Oetting said. “We’re just happy to still be playing football after a little bit of a hiatus from the playoffs here in Morrison.”

After a couple of days of film study, Oetting says he can see why the Spartans (6-3) are still playing, as well.

Balance is what he sees from Ridgewood, and physicality up front on both sides of the ball.

“Offensively they throw it a little bit and run it, just a nice mix,” Oetting said. “Defensively they run a 4-4, similar to us – they run a little more Cover-2 [on the back end] than we do – but they look like strong, physical kids. They’ve just got a nice team.”

The Spartans (6-3) had to replace 11 of 12 starters who graduated last season, but two-way lineman Alex Johnson anchors the trenches, and senior Logan Nodine has played well under center in his first year at quarterback.

“[Nodine] looks like he throws a nice ball,” Oetting said, “and he’s got some good-sized targets down the field at wide receiver. Their backs and receivers are physical and quick.”

Morrison (9-0) has got some of those attributes, too. Quarterback Nate Helms has thrown for 804 yards and nine touchdowns, with three receivers having at least seven catches. Keegan Anderson has 497 yards rushing and 502 yards receiving, with 10 total TDs, and Riley Wilkens (506 yards, 9 TDs) and Hunter Newman (602 yards, 3 TDs) lead a ground attack that averages 6.1 yards per carry.

“We’re not going to reinvent the wheel for the postseason; we’re going to do what got us here,” Oetting said. “We’re a big-play offense, and defensively we’re going to have 11 guys going to the football and keep pursuing until the play is over.

“It’s exciting to see a new opponent, but our game plan is pretty much going to stay the same as it was the first 9 weeks.”