Since 2004, the Grant D. Morse school hosts a celebration of community with its annual Mustang Bowl, the self-proclaimed “Touch Football Classic.” The Mustang Bowl features the entire fifth and sixth grade student body participating in an action packed game complete with cheerleaders and event support staff for an afternoon of football, food, music and memories to last a lifetime.
School Superintendent Seth Turner and Morse Principal Donald Dieckmann lend their talents as game announcers and sideline reporters keeping the record crowd of over 1500 informed and entertained with Mustang Bowl facts, observations and commentary. Pitching in is Morse school front desk staff member Rich Greco offering color commentary and pitching various local sponsors of the event.
The two teams battling for the coveted Green Apples Cup are the Patriots and Mustangs who consisted of 93 boys and girls from the Morse fifth and sixth grade. The Patriots won their third straight Mustang Bowl 24-14 as a result of a ball control offense and some exciting runs and kicks by Sam Bagshaw. “We wanted to make short passes and get first downs,” said Patriots coach sixth grader Kieran Defino. Bagshaw was named the game’s Offensive MVP as a result of his outstanding performance. “I though he did really well,” added Kieran. “We knew he was quick and would be difficult to stop.”
Fellow sixth grader Michael Averill coached the Mustangs and is a lifelong friend of Kieran’s. Michael and his team impressed Kieran over the five week preparations leading up to the game. “I honestly thought they were going to win because when I watching them in practice, they knew what they were doing and they had a lot of talent,” Kieran explained.
The Mustangs Tavin Rell scored three touchdowns in last year’s Mustang Bowl on three carries. This year he continued to slice through the defense as he was responsible for both Mustangs’ scores. He hit Sam Speirs on 35 yard touchdown pass and scored on a 2-yard quarterback keeper.
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