MORTON — Gideon Snyder is training for mixed martial arts. But the player teammates nicknamed Jean-Claude Van Damme saw his Morton team submit to a ground-and-pound attack from Pekin.
The Dragons came in and sent workhorse running back Ty Jackson and 260-pound fullback Landon Erxleben and others to 57 rushes for 276 yards and three touchdowns and hang on for a 27-24 Mid-Illini Conference win Friday at Carper Field.
Morton (1-4, 1-2) was up for the battle but ran out of time, scoring a touchdown with 3.7 seconds left in a bid for a comeback. A handful of clutch plays proved to be the difference.
“They were overloading, trying to run it right up the gut at us,” Snyder said. “A stop here, a break there, this was a very winnable game for us.”
Training for a shot in MMA
Snyder is a 6-foot, 180-pound outside linebacker and tight end in his final prep season. He is also considering a shot at mixed martial arts.
“I have no idea when I might fight,” the 18-year-old said. “I’m still in training, still new to it. I was training in the summer, before football, at Peoria Athletic Club. I’m in a class for it there, and when they think I’m ready they’ll try to find a fight for me.”
Imagine his parents dealing with not only having a son playing football, but also perhaps fighting in MMA.
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“My mom doesn’t love it,” Snyder said, grinning. “She’s OK with (MMA) as long as she doesn’t have to watch. I like it. It’s you against another man, head to head, fighting. You’re in there alone. I watch other fighters, Conor McGregor is my favorite, I love his style.”
Snyder’s older brother, Elijah, was an MMA fighter before he headed off to college. He and his brother still spar.
As for sparring with Pekin on Friday, the Potters found themselves up against Jackson, who never tires, and Erxleben, a 260-pounder who coaches say benches 420 pounds. It was a powerful 1-2 punch.
How Pekin defeated Morton
Clutch moments tipped this game in Pekin’s direction. Morton’s game-opening possession began with a 37-yard pass down the middle from quarterback Isaac Davis to Cole Rinkenberger, who made a diving, juggling catch.
With the wind blasting 20-30 mph north to south (sideline to sideline) across Carper Field, the Potters settled for a 3-0 lead on a 25-yard field goal by Dane Kacir.
Pekin (3-2, 2-1) went to its speedy receiver, Dylan Anderson four plays later and he set sail with his 4.4-second 40-yard dash speed for an 81-yard touchdown catch for 7-3. he has scored a touchdown now in all five of the Dragons games this season.
After a three-and-out by Morton, Pekin took over on the Potters 36 and punched it in on a power run from the 7 by Erxleben with 2:11 left in the quarter.
Davis had a terrific night for Morton, running for two touchdowns — including a 50-yarder — and starting the Potters back with a 25-yard TD pass to Julian Alexander (then passing for two points to Vian Siems) to close to within 14-11.
Erxleben ran up the middle from the 2 for a TD and 21-11 lead to complete a 10-play, 61-yard drive with 3:49 left in the third quarter.
With the Potters facing fourth-and-2 at the 50, Davis raced up the middle on a keeper and went the distance to again close the deficit to 21-18 with 4:38 left in the final quarter.
But Anderson, who faced double-coverage often in the second half, picked up a key first down with 9 yards on a reverse from the Pekin 25 with under four minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Then Erxleben rumbled 27 yards to the Morton 33. With no one in front of him downfield, he understood his speed and turned to take on a tackler gaining on him, engaging.
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Two plays later, Anderson cut back off tackle and raced 32 yards for the clinching TD with 78 seconds left.
Davis completed five passes and ran twice in a desperate hurry-up Morton final possession, which he capped by carrying in from the 2 for a TD with 3.7 seconds left. Davis had 14 carries for 81 yards and 2 TDs, and was 10 of 14 for 135 yards and a TD.
When it was over, Morton coach Adam O’Neill huddled with his team on the field and delivered a message:
“Gotta keep believing,” he told them.
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men’s basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA football scores: Morton linebacker Gideon Snyder trains to fight MMA
