Morrice at Fulton – – Football – – The Bleacher Denizen – – September 26, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, your Bleacher Denizen is in Fulton, where the Pirates will host the Morrice Orioles in an eight-man football game. Each team brings a 3-1 record into this game. In an interesting coincidence, both teams have lost to Portland St. Patrick.

Today is Homecoming for Fulton. Also, I’ll be sharing the booth with Dakota Malek, an upcoming announcer who has been announcing events for a few years at Fulton. He just graduated last year, but he already announces with the best of them!

Let’s take a look at the events of this game through the somewhat observant eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never much of a football player. He was showing some promise as a player who could block field goals, but when the football powers that be ruled he was no longer permitted to use his pogo stick, things gradually deteriorated for your Bleacher Denizen.

Oliver Long kicked the opening kickoff to Fulton’s 5 yard line where Bryson Sattler fielded it and returned to the 35 where he ran into Ethen Cole. Fulton started its opening series there.

A first down penalty set Fulton back ten yards. Tyler Ash stopped Fultons run to the left on the first down repeat for a one yard loss. Oliver Long sacked the Fulton quarterback for a six yard second down loss. Zach Litwiller passed to Connor Cunningham for a four yeard third down gain. Austin Gutting made the tackle for the Orioles. Kaiden Oliver punted for Fulton on fourth down. Ethen Cole fielded the ball at the 50 yard line and gained eighteen yards before Layne Speckin tackled him.

Morrice had a first down on Fulton’s 32 yard line.

On the next play, Coltin Kus recovered a fumble and Fulton had a first down on their own 27 yard line.

Zach Litwiller ran to the right for a four yard first down gain. On the next play, Zach Litwiller ran for an eight yard gain and a first down before he stepped out of bounds.

A pass interference on the next play gave Fulton a first down in Morrice territory on the 46 yard line.

Zander Robu stopped Fulton’s first down run for a one yard gain. Zach Litwiller gained one yard on second down before he was forced out of bounds. Kaiden Oliver took the ball up the middle and gained nine yards before a nest full of Orioles stopped him.

On the next play, Bryson Sattler took the ball around the left end for a thirty-five yard run. Zander Robu hit the ball carrier hard on the point after run and caused a fumble. With 6:49 to play in the opening quarter, Fulton had a 6-0 lead.

Fulton’s kickoff went out of bounds around the Oriole 20 yard line; Morrice began its next series on its own 35 yard line.

Eli Whitford and Connor Cunningham teamed up to stop the Morrice first down run for a one yard gain. Parker Billings stopped the second down run into the middle for a one yard gain. The Long Connection showed itself on third down as Griffin passed to his brother Oliver, who made a spectacular catch of a long pass, but landed out of bounds. Austin Gutting’s fourth down punt was downed by Oliver Long on the Fulton 26 yard line where the Pirates started their next drive.

Zander Robu stopped the Pirate first down run into the middle for no gain. Zach Litwiller passed to Bryson Sattler on the left side for a thirty-nine yard gain. Griffin Long made the tackle for the Orioles and probably prevented a touchdown. Fulton had a first down on the Morrice 41 yard line.

Ethen Cole recovered a Fulton fumble on the Pirate 45 yard line for the Orioles.

Bryson Sattler and Eli Whitford teamed up to stop the Morrice first down run up the middle for no gain. Griffin Long’s second down run up right tackle gained five yards. Connor Cunningham’s timely hit caused Morrice’s third down pass to fall incomplete. On fourth down, Griffin Long dashed down the right sideline for a forty yard touchdown.

Oliver Long made the Long snap (sorry, but I could not resist capitalizing that), Griffin Long held the ball and Max Horvatin booted the ball through the uprights for a successful extra point. With 3:04 remaining in the first quarter, Morrice took a 7-6 lead.

Oliver Long kicked off for Morrice; Bryson Sattler fielded the ball around Fulton’s 17 yard line and made a long gain before Zander Robu and Oliver Long teamed up to force him out of bounds. However a penalty for blocking in the back brought the ball back to the Pirate 23 yard line where Fulton started its next series.

Morrice’s defensive line pressured Fulton into throwing an incomplete first down pass. Zach Litwiller connected with Parker Billings for a five yard gain on the left sideline. Griffin Long made the Oriole tackle. Parker Billings took a pitch and ran a reverse to the left for a six yard third down gain. Austin Gutting got the Oriole tackle. Fulton had a first down.

Bryson Sattler took a pitch to the left and gained three yards on first down before he ran into Tyler Ash. Oliver Long pressured the quarterback and Austin Gutting covered the receiver on Fulton’s incomplete second down pass. Zach Litwiller completed a third down pass to Parker Billings, who ran out of bounds after gaining four yards. On the next play, Keigan Edington recovered a fumble on the Fulton 37 yard line where Morrice started its next series.

Griffin Long ran a quarterback keeper to the left for a five yard first down gain. Bryson Sattler made the tackle for Fulton. On the final play of the opening quarter, Griffin Long tossed a screen pass to Austin Gutting, who gained two yards before Coltin Kus led a squad of Pirates in tackling him.

The first quarter ended with Morrice holding a 7-6 lead. The Orioles had the ball on the Pirate 30 yard line; it was third down with three yards to go.

Layne Speckin stopped the Oriole third down run up the middle for a two yard gain. On the next play, the Long Connection came through again as Griffin passed to Oliver for a twenty-one yard touchdown.

Oliver Long snapped the ball, Griffin Long held the ball and Max Horvatin’s extra point kick was good to give Morrice a 14-6 lead with 10:32 to play in the second quarter.

Oliver Long kicked an onside kick. It appeared that Dominich Beckwith and Oliver Long recovered the kick, but apparently, it was not long enough as Fulton was given the ball on the Morrice 49 yard line. (I never did determine exactly what happened.)

Ethen Cole broke up Fulton’s long but incomplete first down pass. On the next play, Zach Litwiller threw a long pass that Connor Cunningham was able to catch in stride for a thirty yard gain. Tyler Ash made a tackle for the Orioles to temporarily prevent a Pirate touchdown.

On the next play, Zach Litwiller tossed the ball to Connor Cunningham for a nineteen yard touchdown. Zander Robu made a tackle to foil Fulton’s extra point run. With 10:04 remaining in the second quarter, Fulton closed the Morrice lead to 14-12.

Parker Billings kicked the ball to the Morrice 33 yard line where Zander Robu dove on the ball. Morrice started its next series at thaat point.

Coltin Kus recovered a fumble for Fulton on the next play; Fulton had the ball on the Morrice 44 yard line.

The Pirate first down pass fell incomplete. Zach Litwiller completed a second down pass to Connor Cunningham for a twenty-six yard gain and a first down.

Griffin Long stopped Fulton’s first down run into the middle for a one yard gain. Zach Litwiller passed to Bryson Sattler on the right side for a seven yard second down gain. On the next play, Zach Litwiller connected with Connor Cunningham over the middle for a ten yard touchdown pass. Wyatt Valentine stopped Fulton’s extra point run. With 7:43 left in the first half, Fulton took an 18-14 lead.

Parker Billings kicked the ball to the Morrice 21 yard line where Zander Robu downed the ball. Morrice started its next series there.

Griffin Long’s first down run to the left earned two yards before Coltin Kus tackled him. Griffin Long passed to Austin Gutting for a ten yard second down gain to earn a first down. Bryson Sattler got the tackle for Fulton.

Griffin Long passed to Oliver Long for an eight yard first down gain. Kaiden Oliver made a tackle to prevent an Oriole touchdown. A facemask penalty on the next play gave Morrice a first down.

Griffin Long went up the right tackle for a four yard first down gain; Coltin Kus made the tackle for Fulton. On the next play, Griffin Long took the ball to the left for a fifty yard touchdown run.

Oliver Long snapped the ball, Griffin Long held the ball and Max Horvatin kicked the successful extra point to give Morrice a 21-18 lead with 5:06 remaining in the opening half.

Oliver Long kicked the ball off to the Fulton 2 yard line where Bryson Sattler caught it and gained thirty-five yards before he ran into Tyler Ash and Dominick Beckwith. Fulton had a first down on its own 37 yard line.

Wyatt Valentine broke up Fulton’s first down pass. A timely hit by Austin Gutting caused the Pirate second down pass to fall incomplete. A third down pass interference penalty gave Fulton a first down.

Coltin Kus and Kaiden Oliver made great blocks as Bryson Sattler went to the right for a five yard first down gain. Derek Gordon made the tackle for Morrice. A flock of Orioles stopped the Pirate second down run for a two yard gain. On the next play, Griffin Long recovered a Fulton fumble on the Morrice 47 yard line; Morrice began its next series there.

Connor Cunningham covered for the Pirates on the Oriole incomplete first down pass. Griffin Long went into the middle and gained three yards on second down before Kaiden Oliver and Coltin Kus stopped him. On the next play, Griffin Long ran for a fifty yard touchdown. Max Horvatin kicked the extra point to give Morrice a 28-18 lead with 2:48 remaining in the first half.

Oliver Long kicked a squib that Lincoln Beltinck downed for Fulton on the Pirate 36 yard line.

Zach Litwiller found Kaiden Oliver on the left sideline with a beautiful pass that he caught in stride for a sixty-four yard touchdown pass. Zach Litwiller passed to Bryson Sattler for a successful point after to chop the Morrice lead to 28-26 with 2:37 remaining in the first half.

Parker Billings kicked the ball to the Morrice 5 yard line where Ethan Cole fielded it and made a nice return, but a penalty for a block in the back brought the ball back to the Morrice 10 yard line.

Griffin Long completed a long pass to Derek Gordon, who made a long run and gained forty-three yards before Lincoln Beltinck pulled him down.

A first down holding penalty cost Morrice ten yards. On the next play, the Long Connection made another appearance as Griffin threw a screen pass to Oliver, who gained 46 yards before Bryson Sattler pushed him out of bounds on the Fulton 11 yard line.

On the next play, Griffing Long ran to the right for an eleven yard touchdown. Max Horvatin kicked his fifth successful extra point of the first half to give Morrice a 35-26 lead with 1:36 remaining in the opening half.

Oiver Long kicked the ball off to the Fulton ten yards line where Bryson Sattler grabbed it and gained fifteen yards before he ran into Tyler Austin and Ethen Cole. Fulton had a first down on its own 25 yard line.

Zach Litwiller passed to Bryson Sattler, who gained thirty yards before Griffin Long pushed him out of bounds to prevent a Pirate touchdown. Fulton had a first down in Morrice territory on the 45 yard line.

Zach Litwiller then passed to Bryson Sattler, who gained thirty-three more yards before Griffin Long stopped him. Fulton was on the Morrice 12 yard line.

A penalty pushed Fulton back ten yards. The Oriole line stopped Fulton’s run for a one yard loss on the first down replay. Ethen Cole and Griffin Long covered for Morrice on the Fulton incomplete second down pass. On the next play, Zach Litwiller connected with Connor Cunningham for a fourteen yard gain; Ethen Cole forced him out of bounds on the Oriole 15 yard line.

On the next play, Griffin Long intercepted a Pirate pass in the end zone.

On the final play of the first half, Morrice took a knee.

At halftime, Morrice held a 35-26 lead.

Dakota Malek did a fine job presenting the Fulton Homecoming halftime show. Parker Billings was named Homecoming King and Kalyn Duflo was named Homecoming Queen.

Parker Billings kicked off for Fulton to open the third quarter. Ethen Cole fielded his kickoff at the ten yard line and gained twenty-two yards before Cameron Diana tackled him. Morrice started its first possession of the second half on its own 32 yard line.

Ethen Cole dove on a fumble to prevent a Morrice turnover on first down. Griffin Long’s run up the left tackle earned four second down yards before Coltin Kus, Kaiden Oliver and Connor Cunningham teamed up for the Pirate tackle. On the next play, Griffin Long tossed a pass to Austin Gutting, who broke several tackles on his way to a twenty-eight yard gain. Coltin Kus made the tackle for the Pirates. Morrice had a first down in Fulton territory on the 36 yard line.

Griffin Long went through the middle for a four yard first down gain; Coltin Kus and Connor Cunningham teamed up for the Pirate tackle. On the next play, Coltin Kus stopped the Oriole run up the middle for a two yard gain. Griffin Long went to the left on third down and gained seventeen yards before Kaiden Oliver chased him out of bounds. Morrice was on the Fulton 13 yard line.

Austin Gutting went into the middle and gained five yards before the Pirate line took him down. Griffin Long went to the left on second down and gained two yards before Connor Cunningham stopped him. On the next play, Austin Gutting broke several tackles on his way to a six yard touchdown run.

Morrice suffered a broken play on the extra point kick; Max Horvatin was not able to kick the ball. With 7:38 remaining in quarter number three, Morrice had a 41-26 lead.

Oliver Long kicked the ball to the Fulton 5 yard line where Bryson Sattler caught it and returned it twenty-five yards before he ran out of bounds. Fulton had a first down on its own 30 yard line.

Zach Litwiller tossed a first down pass to Connor Cunningham, who gained about twenty yards before Griffin Long forced him out of bounds. A Morrice penalty then put Fulton on the Oriole 35 yard line.

Zach Litwiller gained two yards on a first down run before Oliver Long took him down. Oliver Long and Tyler Ash stopped the Pirate second down run for a two yard loss. Zach Litwiller’s third down pass to Bryson Sattler was good for eight yards. Derek Gordon covered on the play. A penalty negated a two yard run by Parker Billings, who would have had a first down. On the fourth down repeat, Zach Litwiller tossed an eight yard pass to Connor Cunningham, who made a spectacular catch as he somehow held onto the ball while being hit by two Orioles.

Fulton had a first down on the Morrice 14 yard line.

Oliver Long stopped Fulton’s first down run for a three yard loss. Zach Litwiller passed to Connor Cunningham for a twelve yard second down gain. Austin Gutting made the tackle for Morrice. The Oriole line stopped Fulton’s third down run up the left tackle for no gain. On fourth down, Zach Litwiller faked a handoff and ran around the left end for a five yard touchdown. Derek Gordon broke up Fulton’s point after pass. With 1:12 remaining in quarter number three, Fulton shaved the Morrice lead to 41-32.

Coltin Kus kicked off for Fulton. The kick went out of bounds at the 20 yard line and Morrice began its series on its own 35 yard line.

Parker Billings and Eli Whitford pressured the quarterback on Morrice’s incomplete first down pass. Griffin Long passed to Austin Gutting, who broke tackles on his way to a nice second down gain, but a holding penalty negated the play. Morrice now needed seventeen yards for a first down. Griffin Long gained four yards on a run to the right end on the second down repeat. Lincoln Beltinck made the Pirate tackle. On third down, Griffin Long went around the right end and gained ten yards before Lincoln Beltinck tackled him. A penalty for too many men on the field gave Morrice enough yards for a first down.

Morrice dropped a first down screen pass. The Long Connection came through again as Griffin passed to Oliver, who made a long run before Bryson Sattler made a tackle for Fulton to prevent a touchdown. That was the final play of the third quarter.

After three quarters, Morrice had a 41-32 lead; they also had a first down on the Fulton 26 yard line.

Griffin Long went to the middle and cut to the left for a six yard first down gain. Adrian Gutting dodged a tackle and gained seven second down yards before Layne Speckin, Connor Cunningham and Roman Patmon stopped him.

Griffin Long recovered a first down fumble to prevent an Oriole turnover. On the next play, Griffin Long passed to Oliver Long over the middle for a seventeen yard gain. On the next play, Griffin Long took the ball up the left tackle for a three yard touchdown run. Max Horvatin kicked the extra point to give Morrice a 48-32 lead with 9:42 left on the clock.

Oliver Long kicked the ball off to the Fulton 20 yard line where Bryson Sattler fielded it and gained three yards before Tyler Ash pushed him out of bounds. Fulton started its series on its own 23 yard line.

Zach Litwiller passed to Parker Billings for an eight yard first down gain. Griffin Long made the stop for Morrice. Bryson Sattler went to the left for a three yard gain and a first down.

Zach Litwiller passed to Connor Cunningham, who fought his way to a seven yard gain before Ethen Cole and Tyler Ash stopped him. Derek Gordon broke up Fulton’s second down pass. Zander Robu stopped Fulton’s third down run for no gain. Ethen Cole nearly intercepted Fulton’s fourth down pass; it fell incomplete and Morrice took over the ball on downs on the Fulton 41 yard line.

Austin Gutting took the ball to the left and gained twenty-four yards before Coltin Kus and Lincoln Beltinck tackled him.

Bryson Sattler stopped the Oriole first down run for no gain. On the next play, Adrian Gutting took the ball around the left side for a seventeen yard touchdown run. Lincoln Beltinck made an agressive play to block the Oriole extra point kick. With 5:21 remaining, Morrice had a 54-22 lead.

Oliver Long sent his kickoff to the Fulton 20 yard line where Bryson Sattler grabbed it and ran twenty yards before Adrian Gutting pushed him out of bounds. Fulton started its series on its own 40 yard line.

Bryson Sattler went to the right for a four yard first down gain; Ethen Cole made the Oriole tackle. On the next play, Griffin Long intercepted the ball for Morrice and downed the ball on the fifty yard line.

Adrian Gutting took the ball to the left and gained nine first down yards before Coltin Kus stopped him. Adrian Gutting recovered a second down fumble to prevent an Oriole turnover. Eli Whitford led a boatload of Pirates in stopping Morrice’s third down run for a one yard loss. Bryson Sattler broke up Morrice’s fourth down pass and Fulton took over the ball on downs on the Pirate 42 yard line.

On the next play, Austin Guttin intercepted a Fulton pass. Morrice took a knee on the next three plays to end the game.

Morrice won this game by the final score of 54-32.