Morris pushes top seed, season ends in Madden 21 semifinals #GoBarton

Davon Morris of the Barton Community College esports program had is national title dream fall short 2-1 on Thursday in the semifinals of the best-of-three series in the NJCAA eSports Championships.

Spending much of the season being the hunted as the No. 1 or No. 2 ranked player, Morris became the hunter in trying to derail the new top ranked player from Bratton and Stratton College, who defeated Morris in the final week of the regular season. In the rematch, the Bobcat capitalized on six interceptions thrown by Morris for a 43-22 win in game one before Morris battled back from a 7-0 deficit in game two in forcing a deciding game three with a 17-14 victory. Utilizing the Green Bay Packers, the Bobcat jumped out to a 10-0 lead over Morris' Kansas City Chiefs but needed a big third down 42-yard touchdown run with 1:08 left to ice the game advancing to the December 17 NJCAA title showdown.

For the freshman from Lyons, Kansas, Morris concluded the Madden 21 campaign at 6-3-1, going 14-7 overall in games played, averaging over 23 points while surrendering 16 points per contest. Morris will be featured by local NBC affiliate KSN on "Good Day Kansas" hosted by Josh Silverman airing Sunday night at approximately 10:30 p.m. and available online Monday at www.ksn.com and social media platforms.

"Although we fell a little short of our goals, our first semester of competition is still an overall success," said Head Coach Curtis Rose. "We're motivated to reach for even greater prizes as we have a month to relax and refresh."

The eSports program resumes competition in January, taking on the challenges of additional varieties of individual and team contests.

Game 1 Summary
Following a scoreless first quarter, a shoot-out ensued with thirty-six points lighting up the second quarter scoreboard in the final two minutes.

Morris and his Chiefs offense chewed up clock marching into the red zone before a costly pick-6 touchdown put the first points on the board just under the two minute warning. Marching back down the field on his next possession, again a red zone interception ended the drive resulting in a 91-yard touchdown pass putting Morris in a 14-0 hole.

Trying to make something happen before halftime, another costly 37-yard pick-6 ballooned the lead with 24 seconds left but the quick strike Morris broke free on a 75-yard Le'Veon Bell touchdown as the subsequent two-point conversion cut the deficit to 22-8.

The scoring still wasn't done as C&S got greedy in final seconds as Morris intercepted a pass at the forty, returning the digital pigskin to the seven yard line with five seconds left. Rejecting a thought of a field goal, Morris' gamble paid dividends as a touchdown pass closed out the halftime score at 22-14.

Morris tied it up on the first drive of the third quarter on a Clyde Edwards-Helaire 61-yard run.

Moving to the fourth quarter, C&S took the lead for good with 2:58 left on a 1-yard plunge after Morris' defense stuffed the first two attempts. Facing 4th and 7 from his own 32-yard line on the next drive, Morris' incomplete pass turned the ball over at the two minute mark as a 17-yard run 48 seconds later made it a two point game. Four interceptions and a fumble took up the remaining time off the clock before a C&S 31-yard touchdown pass as the clock expired produced the final 43-22 score.

Game 2 Summary
Switching venues to Arrow Stadium, the all-red clad Chiefs fell behind 7-0 on C&S' 75-yard clocking eating drive highlighted by a 19-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter.

Morris' Chiefs launched their own methodical drive down the field but came up empty on an interception at the twelve. C&S's Packers returned the favor three plays later giving Morris a 45-yard field to work with in the final forty-five seconds of the half. A trio of 10-plus yard plays put the Chiefs on the doorstep as Edwards-Helaire 1-yard plunge and Travis Kelce snag in the back of the end zone reversed the leaderboard 8-7 with eleven ticks on the clock. Morris then snagged an interception and returned it twenty-eight yards to the 7-yard line, setting up a Patrick Mahomes touchdown and a 14-7 Morris lead as the PAT banged off the upright.

Receiving the kick to begin the third quarter, Morris' drive stalled with twenty-seven seconds left in the quarter but a 49-yard field goal expanded the gap to 17-7. The ensuing Packer possession was short in time but big in coverage as a 78-yard pass closed the margin to just three.

Pounding the run game and converting a fourth down and two third downs, the back-breaking play came on 3rd & 8 from the Packer 27-yard line as Edwards-Helaire broke off sixteen yards before taking a slide at the ten. Morris took knees in the final minute wrapping up the game 17-14 to force the title berth game three.

Game 3 Summary
Morris' defense appeared to stop C&S on numerous occasions on the opening drive, sacking the quarterback three times but a costly holding call and a 4th and 1 conversion kept the march alive, eventually resulting in a 3rd & 11 conversion for a 7-0 lead.

An interception at the Packers' 38-yard line ended Morris' opening drive with C&S moving the ball to the 1-yard line in five plays. Morris' Chief defense put up a tough front, stuffing the first three plays protecting the goal line causing C&S to settle for field goal and a ten point lead.

Morris cut into the deficit as the second half opening drive resulted in a 41-yard field goal. C&S converted a 4th & 1 to eat up the rest of the third quarter, scoring two minutes later pushing the margin to 17-3.

A 32 and 35-yard pass quickly moved the ball down the field with Morris executing a perfect option play for the final yard cutting the deficit to six. Needing a defensive stop in the final 2:14, a 42-yard run and two-point conversion with 1:08 left proved to be the game sealing pivotal play. Morris' answer ended on an interception at the Packer 48-yard line as the subsequent C&S drive put the final dagger in the game with a touchdown pass with twenty-four seconds left.

Despite the scoring of both teams throughout the three-game series, each produced some big defensive plays throughout the evening including Morris' last maneuver in picking off a C&S deep throw returning it 71-yards to the house on the last play in the final 31-17 deficit.