Malad flips script, dominates defensively for first victory over Aberdeen in 15 years

ABERDEEN — Facing a third and 13 with just under six minutes left and clinging to a 7-3 lead, Malad knew that a first down would allow it to bleed some clock in search of its first victory over Aberdeen in 15 years.

After relying on the legs of running back Drake Morrison and quarterback Easton Green for nearly every big play up to that point, the Dragons and head coach Brady Price went a different direction. On perhaps the biggest play of the game, Malad ran a double-reverse to wide receiver Kyson Willie.

Willie got around the left edge before sprinting up the sideline. Not only did he give the Dragons a fresh set of downs, he ate up 62 yards and put his team on the doorstep of a dagger touchdown.

After the game, Price offered a glowing assessment of his team’s execution on what proved to be Malad’s win-clinching play.

“To be honest, there was some conversation about whether we should not run it, but we stuck with it,” Price told EastIdahoSports.com. “(Willie’s) a tremendous player, a great kid … it worked out — made us look real smart.”

Morrison was the decoy, heading around the right edge in an attempt to draw the defense away from the ball.

He said he had a clear view of the game’s biggest play.

“It was the happiest I’d been all day,” Morrison told EastIdahoSports.com. “Even though I scored, I didn’t care, Ky’s run was the best part of the day.”

After Willie’s big gainer, Morrison got the ball on three straight carries, going the final 12 yards into the end zone and giving Malad (5-2, 3-0) a 14-3 lead.

The Tigers (4-3, 1-1) were unable to answer, as the Dragons beat Aberdeen, 14-3, for their first head-to-head win since 2011 — when Morrison and his fellow seniors were three years old.

Brady struggled to put the importance of the victory into words.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “I love these boys, these men that I have — I’ve coached them for a long time. This is a big deal, but it’s not the end — we’ve got a lot of stuff that’s going to happen this year. But this is a big step toward what we need to do as a program, to keep getting better.”

Brady went on to explain that Malad used just 13 players all night — with nine Dragons playing every snap of ironman football.

“They play so hard, they play so tough,” the coach said of his team. “I couldn’t ask for better guys, across the board.”

While Willie’s day ended on a high note, it didn’t get off to the best start. Malad received the opening kickoff, and with the first snap of the day, they ran a double pass looking for a big chunk on a trick play.

But Tiger safety Isaac Driscoll stayed home and picked off Willie’s pass.

Aberdeen parlayed the early takeaway into a field goal and a 3-0 lead just over five minutes into the game. But Malad held the Tigers scoreless for the final 43 minutes.

The Tiger defense also picked off Green, turning Malad over twice. But they had their own trouble holding onto the ball, fumbling several times.

Only one of those fumbles was recovered by the Dragons, but it was a pivotal play.

The Tigers were driving early in the second quarter, looking to take a 10-7 lead. But the ball squirted out of Driscoll’s hands high into the air. And as it fell to the ground, Malad’s senior defensive back Parker Price was the first player to fall on it.

Between turnovers and Dragon touchdowns, both defenses battled to control the line of scrimmage.

Morrison, who, along with eight of his teammates, plays on both sides of the ball, said that Malad’s defense this season, particularly during what is now a five-game winning streak, has been the product of the team’s newly accepted philosophy.

In past years, he said, the Dragons have been more focused on individual achievement than team success. Now, he continued, Malad is playing as one, which has been the most important thing for success.”

“It’s amazing,” he said. “I feel like, our team — in years past, we’ve been individuals, we haven’t competed as a team, we’ve been trying to be the best that we can. … Our team, working together, has led us to where we are right now.”

He continued:

“The communication that we had today was amazing,” Morrison said. “We’ve been a better defensive team these past few games, and it showed tonight. And our offense did just as well. It was great.”

During their five-game winning streak, Malad has allowed 40 total points — eight per contest.

Morrison, though, made his biggest impact on the offensive side, rushing for 117 yards and both the game’s touchdowns.

“He’s just a stud, and the line has been blocking so well the last couple games for him — second hundred-yard game in a row,” Price said of Morrison. “Those were tough yards that he had to earn tonight, and he’s a tough kid. Just impressive.”

Driscoll, who also plays quarterback for the Tigers, paced the Aberdeen offense with 26 passing yards and 76 rushing yards.

Not only was 2011 the last time Malad beat Aberdeen, but that was also the last season in which the Dragons won five games. Now, they have their collective eyes on a conference title. But that would require Malad to beat perennial state championship contender West Side (7-0, 2-0).

First, though, the Dragons will host Declo (6-1) next week.

West Side and Declo, Price said, are the benchmark programs of Idaho 3A football. These final two games, he continued, will allow his Dragons to measure themselves against the best.

“It’s just awesome to be in the conversation right now, with where these guys have gotten themselves to,” he said.

Aberdeen will lick its wounds before traveling to West Side to take on the Pirates next week.