Taylor’s defense knew it needed to step up this week.

Going against a Morton Ranch team that had explosive players and could put up points in a hurry, it was on the Mustangs defense to find a way to limit the Mavericks and help out the teams offense in doing so.

The Taylor defense more than stepped up to the challenge. They kept Morton Ranch from ever fully getting into the game and leading the Mustangs to a 15-6 win as the Mustangs held on to an ever important spot in the top four of District 19-6A.

“A big part of this is that we are finally getting healthy,” said Taylor head coach Chad Simmons. “Added to that, on both sides of the ball we are continuing to grow and improve. We just keep getting better as the year goes on and I think that showed in the performance tonight. The guys stepped up and made plays all over and that’s what you need to see.”

It was a defensive battle from start to finish and that was especially evident in the first half. Neither team scored on their opening drive but Taylor came back with a touchdown early in the first quarter, getting a fumble deep in Morton Ranch territory and getting on the board with a 17-yard pass from Daniel Bruns to Dante Archie.

That would be the only score of the first half. Both defenses stepped up and despite both teams getting past midfield multiple times in the first half, the two team’s defenses held when they needed to as the Mustangs went into the locker room with the lead having only allowed 78 yards in the first half while forcing two turnovers.

“We knew coming in that Mike (Gerald) is so dynamic and it was key for us to pursue him every time he was out of the pocket and not let him get big plays,” said senior safety Cyrus Reyes. “He can make big plays so we just focused on containing him and stopping the run game. He still managed to break a couple but overall I think we did a really good job.”

Morton Ranch came out and made things a game of things by scoring on its first drive of the half. They put together a strong drive and Gerald capped it off with a 45-yard touchdown run, but a missed extra point kept the Mustangs in the lead by one point.

The two teams went back and forth throughout the second half. Taylor drove and had a chance to score before Dean Ford made an interception and Taylor making a defensive stop inside their own 10-yard line. Taylor kept grinding though and eventually was able to get the score to pull away, milking clock in the fourth quarter and getting a touchdown on a 6-yard touchdown run from Archie before the Mustangs scored on a 2-point conversion on a trick play pass from Reyes to Coker to put the game out of reach. Reyes then sealed the game by intercepting a pass on the final Morton Ranch drive.

“We just kept attacking and on that final drive we finally got it,” Archie said. “I looked at the line before that last drive and I told them I know what they can do and what they’re capable of and we could go and put this game away right here. That’s just how we are together, I push those guys and they push me. It was a great feeling to get down there and put that one away.”

With the win, Taylor stays in playoff position with more important matchups on the horizon. The Mustangs will take on Mayde Creek next before closing out district with games against Jordan, Paetow and Katy.

“We just have to keep that hunger, as long as we do that we’re going places,” Reyes said. “Every day at practice we have to bring an attitude and a know how. That’s the key for us and if we want to keep getting better that’s what we have to focus on.”

Taylor 15, Morton Ranch 6

First quarter

T: Daniel Bruns 17 pass to Dante Archie (Jackson Waller kick) 8:19

Third quarter

MR: Mike Gerald 45 run, 8:51

Fourth quarter

T: Archie 6 run (Cyrus Reyes pass to Ashton Coker) 4:14

Team stats

Individual Statistics

Rushing – Taylor: Dante Archie, 13-44-1; Javion Garrett, 7-21; Daniel Bruns, 3-6; Ethan Jacobson, 4-4 Morton Ranch: Mike Gerald, 5-96-1; Ryan Hall, 24-79;

Passing – Taylor: Daniel Bruns, 9-19-139-1-1; Morton Ranch: Mike Gerald, 5-14-54-0-2

Receiving – Taylor: Ian Flynt, 3-72; Javion Garrett, 1-26; Dante Archie, 2-17-1; Jeremy McCullough, 2-13; Cyrus Reyes, 1-9; Cameron Lewis, 1-2; ; Morton Ranch: Markel McNeal, 3-45; Tyler Williams, 2-9;