MUNSTER | This year's Battle of the Bridge wasn't quite as easy as the last few for Times No. 6 Munster.
Sure, the Mustangs beat Highland 28-0. But everyone in attendance knew the game was closer than that.
"Highland plays with a lot of character," Munster coach Leroy Marsh said. "They're doing things the right way. They've got it going in the right direction, unfortunately for us."
Trojans first-year coach Ken Bye was happy with the way his team played.
"They gave a 110-percent effort, so I'm happy with that," Bye said. "We played well. I thought we stepped up to play a team like Munster."
The Mustangs (3-0) scored on their first two drives. The first score came on a 7-yard pass from Mark Strbjak to Justin Gill barely 2 1/2 minutes into the game. Munster added another touchdown when Kyle Wargo scampered into the end zone from 9 yards out.
When Highland got the ball back, it was able to have some success. But on 4th-and-goal from the 3-yard line, Munster senior Sean Ziemba sacked Matt Holloway to end the threat.
"I would have liked to have gotten that score," Bye said. "It would've been nice to go into the half down 14-7."
The Highland defense tightened and forced Munster to punt on the next possession. Just before going into the locker room, the Mustangs were stalled at the Highland 40-yard line, keeping the game within reach.
"Defensively, I thought we played better (than the first two games)," Marsh said. "But offensively, we kept shooting ourselves in the foot. It was by far our worst offensive performance, but a lot of that had to do with the Highland defense."
Highland (1-2) held Munster scoreless in the third quarter, as well, and another Trojan drive stalled in Mustang territory.
Munster put two more touchdowns on the board in the final period, including a 16-yard Tyler Musgrove run with 30 seconds remaining.
"From where we were with Wheeler (two weeks ago), we're much further along," Bye said. "If we keep improving, the wins are going to come."
PREP FOOTBALL
No. 6 Munster 28, Highland 0
Justin Gill tied a Mustang record with nine receptions.
