Morton Ranch continues hot start with win over Kingwood Park

By Tyler Tyre, Sports Editor
Posted 9/4/22

It’s huge how we’ve started the season,” said senior running back Santana Scott. “There’s a lot of momentum that we’ve gained in these first two games and we have that momentum now heading into next week, which is a big game for us."

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Morton Ranch continues hot start with win over Kingwood Park

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Morton Ranch believes they have what it takes to make noise this season.

The Mavericks have offensive weapons all over the field, they have experience unlike many and many of the teams in years past, and they have confidence in themselves.

That confidence was apparent on Saturday night, as the Mavericks used a huge offensive performance to beat Kingwood Park 56-28 and move to 2-0 on the season.

“It’s huge how we’ve started the season,” said senior running back Santana Scott. “There’s a lot of momentum that we’ve gained in these first two games and we have that momentum now heading into next week, which is a big game for us. We’ve been working towards the season and been trying to put things together and tonight really just is going to help us continue to build on what we’ve been doing this year.”

The Mavericks put up 353 yards rushing to go with 158 yards receiving in the win as the Morton Ranch offense was explosive all night.

Both Scott and junior running back Ryan Hall ended the night with over 100 yards rushing to lead the team, while senior quarterback Josh Johnson had 52 yards rushing.

“Josh can throw it and run it, and then Santana and Ryan are different types of backs and they get things done in the run game, while Mike Gerald is a huge threat in the pass game,” said Morton Ranch head coach Ron Counter. “We just feel really confident in those guys every time we step on the field and we really executed tonight. It was a really good game and test for us.”

Scott got the Mustangs on the board first in the first quarter, capping off a 11-play, 77 yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run. Morton Ranch doubled their lead just three minutes later on a 60-yard play action pass from Johnson to Cameron Hudson, before Ryan hall got his name on the scoresheet at the end of the first quarter on a 60-yard touchdown run to put Morton Ranch up 21-0.

Kingwood Park got on the board in the second quarter but Morton Ranch responded right back, with Johnson hitting Mike Gerald on a 33-yard pass, and after another Kingwood Park score, Johnson found Gerald again for a 54-yard touchdown off a play action, giving the Mavericks a 35-14 lead at halftime.

Johnson finished the night five of 10 passing for 158 yards and three touchdowns while Gerald caught three passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns.

“Every defense has to crash to account for Santana and that opens so much for the pass game,” Johnson said. “Two of my touchdowns came off of play action where they were all coming into the box because of the run game, with Santana, Ryan and me as running threats. It causes a lot of chaos for a defense because they have to worry about that. Then when we hit those passes there’s really not an answer because they have to respect both.”

Kingwood Park scored to start second half before Hall answered back for Morton Ranch, Scott and Hall both scored once more each down the stretch as the Mavericks rolled in the second half to the win.

“Really our run game comes down to our offensive line and they do a great job, all the credit goes to them,” Scott said. “They make the holes and we just stay patient and wait for it. We know they’re going to make a hole for us every time and that makes our job as running backs so much easier.”

Things will only get tougher now for Morton Ranch, as they take on Paetow in the first week of district play. The Mavericks know it will be a tough test, especially without having the depth they would like. But the Mavericks are looking forward to what’s next in district play and proving themselves against a tough matchup every week.

“They’re a great team and it’s both of our first district games this year so to add on to that that there’s kind of a rivalry with this game, the kids will be really hypes up on both sides. We know that it’s going to be a tough game but every game in this district is tough and we know we can compete.”

Morton Ranch 56, Kingwood Park 28

Kingwood Park

0

14

7

7

 --

28

Morton Ranch

21

14

7

14

 --

56

First quarter

MR: Santana Scott 10 run (Angel Roberto Rinco kick) 6:39

MR: Josh Johnson 60 pass to Cameron Hudson (Rinco kick) 3:45

MR: Ryan Hall 60 run (Rinco kick) 0:13

Second quarter

KP: Patrick Overmyer 40 pass to Pierce Richards (Wyatt May kick) 11:11

MR: Johnson 33 pass to Mike Gerald (Rinco kick) 4:33

KP: Overmyer 20 run (May kick)

MR: Johnson 54 pass to Gerald (Rinco kick) 1:07

Third quarter

KP: Overmyer 32 pass to Brady Jones (May kick)  7:30

MR: Hall 1 run (Rinco kick) 1:37

Fourth quarter

MR: Scott 2 run (Rinco kick) 11:00

KP: Overmyer 6 pass to Hayden Bender (May kick)

MR: Hall 2 run (Rinco kick) 1:05

Team stats

Kingwood Park

 Morton Ranch

  First downs

 11

 18

  Yards rushing

20-65

45-353

  Yards passing

151

158

  Passes

12-22-3-0

5-10-3-0

  Punts

3-16.6

3-27.3

  Fumbles-lost

1-0

1-0

  Penalty-yards

6-40

8-86

Individual Statistics

Rushing – Morton Ranch: Santana Scott, 23-168-2; Ryan Hall, 13-133-3; Josh Johnson 9-52; Kingwood Park: Patrick Overmyer 8-42-1; Isaiah Perez, 10-13; Pierce Richards, 1-8; Brayden Moronko, 1-2

Passing – Morton Ranch: Josh Johnson, 5-10-158-3-0; Kingwood Park: Patrick Overmyer, 12-22-151-3-0

Receiving – Morton Ranch: Mike Gerald, 3-92-2; Cameron Hudson, 1-60-1; Jairon Davis, 1-6; Kingwood Park: Pierce Richards, 8-91-1; Brady Jones, 2-42-1; Hayden Bender, 2-18-1

Katy ISD, sports, Morton Ranch, Josh Johnson, Santana Scott