Morse Recovers from Early Shocks, Wins Big

After last week’s big victory over Rancho Buena Vista, Morse High Coach John Shacklett feared his No. 1-ranked team would suffer a letdown against a much-improved Sweetwater High team.

And early on, Shacklett was right.

Sweetwater’s Willie Branch took the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, and Willie’s brother, Danny, ran 76 yards for another score on the Red Devils’ first play from scrimmage.

But then Morse came to life. It really came to life.

Final score: Morse 56, Sweetwater 28.

It was the most points scored by a high school team this year and the most by a Morse team since the first week of 1988, when the Tigers routed San Francisco St. Anthony’s, 63-8.

Some letdown.

What happened was, the Morse offensive line began wearing down an undersized and outmanned Sweetwater team. They began opening huge holes for Morse’s quick, elusive backs. When that happens . . . Morse rushed for 507 yards.

“I think our offensive line kind of wore them down,” Shacklett said.

Behind that offensive line, the Tiger’s Gary Taylor, the county’s leading rusher, gained 256 yards in 18 carries. Quarterback Teddy Lawrence added 146 in just eight carries and fullback Conan Smith added 66 in 18 carries. Even receiver Tommy Bennett pitched in with 41 in three rushes.

Sweetwater kept it close for a while--it was 23-14 Morse at the half--but then Morse took over. Gary Taylor had three touchdowns and Lawrence and Smith two each. Cary Taylor, Gary’s brother, added another touchdown with 2:42 left.

“Too much (Gary) Taylor and too much Lawrence,” Sweetwater Coach Andy Sanchez said.

Danny Branch finished with 99 yards in 11 carries, and Willie Branch added another 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Morse improved to 3-0, while Sweetwater, which shut out Crawford, 28-0, last week, fell to 1-1.