Morrison football honors 9-year-old boy who died unexpectedly, beats Oklahoma Union
Sep. 22—The Morrison community and high school football team at Friday's home game honored Brooks Mittasch, a 9-year-old boy who died unexpectedly on Sept. 10.
Brooks was a member of the Morrison Hot Shot baseball team and the youth wrestling program.
Before the game, senior Kasey Rupp led the players out of the locker room, holding a flag with the Mittasch name and the No. 99 on it — Brooks' baseball number. Brooks' twin brother, Austin, was a co-captain of the game and tossed the coin to start the game.
Community members held a T-shirt fundraiser for Brooks, with all of the proceeds going to the Mittasch family, to match Morrison's homecoming week theme: blackout.
"Everybody showed up and showed out," senior Hunter Crenshaw said. "We dedicated this win to him tonight, and I just continue to pray for his family."
Led by Brody Bailey's 165 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, the Wildcats (3-1) defeated Oklahoma Union, 30-8.
"I came out here to play for (Brooks)," Bailey said. "I get the chance that he didn't get, and I wish he would have got it. It means a lot."
Quarterback Mason Schubert added 95 rushing yards, while passing for 127 yards and a touchdown.
Schubert's 7-yard touchdown pass to Rupp in the second quarter, and the ensuing two-point conversion involving the same duo, ended a brief scoring drought in the red zone. The Wildcats were able to move the ball with ease down the field until then, but struggled to punch it in the end zone.
Crenshaw put the blame on himself as a leader on the offensive line after the game.
"We did terribly in the first half," Crenshaw said. "We can't come out like that again. We got to work this week."
Several players after the game said coach Cory Bales preaches to not excuse poor play even in wins, and that will make them better every week.
But it wasn't all bad — far from it.
The Morrison defense kept the Cougars in check, aside from a 53-yard touchdown pass as a result of a broken play to tie the game at 8. Oklahoma Union's quarterback had completed 8 of 10 passes, but finished the game with 13 completions on 25 attempts.
The Cougars also had a difficult time running the ball on the Wildcats' defense — with 85 yards on 21 carries.
Tae Warriner intercepted a fourth-down pass in the fourth quarter, and if that didn't seal the win, Bailey's second touchdown and James Kirkwood's 46-yard fumble recovery for a score did.
Morrison travels to play Chelsea on Friday to open district play.
