From the moment Morton players stepped on the field for Monday’s practice, they knew this was no ordinary work week.
A 5-4 regular season may be acceptable — or even commendable — for some programs. Not for Morton.
Any bad taste that lingered from regular-season defeats was washed away Friday with Morton’s 40-25 victory over Highland in the Class 4A Sectional 17 opener.
The Governors (6-4) have now won 11 consecutive head-to-head meetings with the Trojans (4-6).
“Our approach this week has been longer and more intense practices,” Morton coach Rippy Morales said. “More focus on our offensive individual skills. More focus on defensive skills. We hit every day, Monday through (Thursday).”
Instead of holding a walk-through followed by the Thursday team meal that has long been standard for high school football teams, the Governors had a full-contact practice that lasted an hour and a half longer than usual.
After all, this was no normal week.
“Coming in, it’s scary because you don’t want your season to be over,” Morton quarterback Tevin Armstrong said. “This is extremely important because we worked so hard all season that we wouldn’t want to go home in the first round.”
The intensity showed, as the Governors slowly but surely wore down the Trojans, earning a date with undefeated Lowell.
Armstrong accounted for four Morton touchdowns, rushing for three and throwing for one. His 17-yard pass to Lorenzo Topps with 1:46 left in the first half came 14 seconds after Hunter Rycerz’s 1-yard run pulled Highland within nine.
After battling through an ankle injury during the regular season, Morton running back Mark Snorton was back at full strength, rushing for 111 yards on 27 carries.
“It’s a blessing,” Morales said. “He can do so many things. Teams have to spend a lot of time preparing for him. When Mark steps on the field and gets the ball, he’s giving 100 percent nonstop. When Mark’s out there, he leads by example.”
Free safety LaQuan Hall made his season debut for the Governors. He gained academic eligibility for the first time all season when grades were released Oct. 16. According to Morales, Hall will eventually be worked into the offense as a wide receiver.
Rycerz passed for 42 yards, while Griffin Grider led the Trojans with four receptions for 47 yards. Grider, a two-way player who also started at free safety, was in his first game as a captain for Highland.
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“Griffin is probably our best defensive player,” Highland coach Trent Grider said. “He’s been playing all over the field, and he’s playing really well. We needed a guy to step up and be a captain for us, and we felt he was the guy to do it.”
Rycerz runs accounted for both of Highland’s offensive TDs.
“He wants the ball in his hands, and he knows what to do when he gets it,” Trent Grider said. “He knows he’s the trigger guy. Our offensive line knows if they get a good block for him, something good can happen.”
Brandon Vickrey is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.