Golden Eagles Soar Over Hilltoppers 42-21

By, Steven Ciaglia

Was that a ram? A bulldozer? No, it was just Ryan McDonald pushing down another Summit defender before ripping off his second touchdown run of the night. 

He would end up with four touchdowns last Friday night as the Morris Knolls Golden Eagles defeated the Summit Hilltoppers 42-21 at home. McDonald accrued 174 rushing yards, and over 100 yards on two scoring plays alone.

The performance was just another part of an incredible season for McDonald, and the Morris Knolls run game in general.

McDonald started the game with a 59-yard touchdown run halfway through the first quarter. Summit answered with a Matt McKeever touchdown four minutes later.

Ryan McDonald changed the course of the game less than 40 seconds later. On 2nd down, he slipped under the left tackle and found a gap. McDonald ran through it and into open space. The 77-yard touchdown run was his longest play of the game and gave Morris Knolls the 14-7 lead.

McDonald had his third touchdown of the game not even two minutes into the second quarter, scoring from the goal line to make it 21-7. Summit would answer, as Jackson Marx scored with 4:40 left in the half to bring it within 7.

Morris Knolls would take their time, waiting until there was a minute and 15 seconds remaining for Zuravnsky to score from six yards out. The touchdown was set up by a Bret Szurko 29-yard catch the previous play. Brayden Hallik intercepted McKeever with 32 seconds left, ending the half.

The teams traded possession for the better part of the third quarter, before Ryan McDonald scored for the fourth time. The lead was even further extended, as Morris Knolls began to run away with the game.

Summit followed the touchdown with 35 seconds remaining in the third. McKeever responded with a 22-yard touchdown run, in which he refused to go down. Breaking multiple tackles, he dragged a cluster of Morris Knolls defenders to the goal line with him.

Morris Knolls got the ball with 30 seconds in the quarter. They ran the ball once before the fourth quarter began. What followed was what Coach Bryan Gallagher describes as “Morris Knolls style football”.

Ten minutes and eight seconds was the length of the Eagles’’ final scoring drive. They ran the ball again, and again, and again. They were physical, battering runs, leading to Zuravnsky scoring with 2:22 left. 

Summit wanted to score; wanted to have a chance. McKeever, a strong check-down passer throughout the game, continued to throw down to his running back. Greg Antal got into the backfield for a sack. Then Patrick Neary and Justin Verola ended the game by sacking McKeever one last time. Possession turned over, Knolls took a knee, and that was it.

Morris Knolls won 42-21, led by a 339 yard rushing effort. McDonald had 174 yards, Zuravnsky had 131. McDonald added 52 yards in the air on two attempts. The defense also added two tackles for loss and two sacks. It was a complete game on all sides by Morris Knolls.

Summit wasn’t idle, with 195 rushing yards of their own. McKeever led the team with 108 yards. In the air, the Hilltopper had 224 yards. Gavin Schnall had 96 yards on 6 receptions. McKeever went 17/24 passing. Summit’s defense was largely ineffective, with zero sacks and zero TFLs.

Morris Knolls will now travel to two-seeded Northern Highlands (6-3) next week for the semi-final round of the North 1, Group 4 sectional playoff. The Highlanders defeated Morris Knolls last season in the playoffs, so Coach Gallagher and the Golden Eagles are eager to get a victory over them.