Team at a glance
NICKNAME Mustangs
COLORS Burgundy and white
STADIUM 26th and Harlem, Berwyn
ENROLLMENT 8,025
CLASS 8A
COACH Tony Asay
2007 RECORD 0-9
CONFERENCE 0-6, 7th

TOP RETURNERS
Moses Menendez    sr.    RB
Anthony Garant    sr.    OT
Tim Yangas    sr.    OG
Ricardo Mora    sr.    OG
Chuy Mendiola    sr.    TE

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Dan Diaz    jr.    C
Adrian Morfin    jr.    OT

2008 schedule
Aug. 29 vs. Farragut
Sept. 9 vs. Hinsdale Central
Sept. 12 vs. Addison Trail
Sept. 19 at Leyden
Sept. 27 vs. Hinsdale South
Oct. 4 at Oak Park-River Forest
Oct. 10 at Proviso East
Oct. 17 vs. Downers Grove South
Oct. 24 at Willowbrook

Games to watch
Aug. 29 vs. Farragut Best bet for Mustangs to end their two-year winless streak
Oct. 4 at OPRF Always an intriguing local rivalry despite the Huskies dominance in recent years
Oct. 24 at Willowbrook Last time Mustangs won a game was against the Warriors in 2005


five-year record
overall    conference    playoffs
‘07    0-9 0-6
‘06    0-9 0-6
‘05    1-8 1-5
‘04 0-9 0-6
‘03    1-8 0-6     

Welcome back
After the firing of former Morton head coach Tom Gullickson, the Mustangs decided to bring in alum Tony Asay, who played on Morton’s last conference championship team in 1985. Asay returns to the Mustangs’ program fresh off a one-year duty as the defensive backs coach at Harper College. The Hawks went 6-6 and won their Region IV championship. Prior to coaching at Harper, Asay was the wide receiver and defensive backs coach for Morton from 2001-06, and also assisted the Mustangs’ softball and girls basketball programs.
“He’s pretty much like a father,” senior running back Menendez said Asay. “He’s a great motivator. He makes you want to come and play for him and for the school.”

Four horsemen
Four of the assistant coaches on Morton’s varsity staff enter 2008 with a great deal of knowledge about the Mustangs’ program. Joe Tedeschi (2005), Anthony Grazzini (2001-2004), George Baglione (1990-1994) and Dave Chierico (1985-1989) are all-former Morton football varsity head coaches who were brought in by Asay, who believes their understanding of the Berwyn and Cicero communities will be vital in building.
“Because so many of us are alumni and grew up around here and have been in the same places the kids have been in, it’s been a natural transition,” Asay said. “The coaches came on board because they know that we need to instill integrity and class into the program.”

Character’s Job 1
When Asay first took over as head coach earlier this year he had a mission statement for the players: We’re going to coach the father in them before we coach the football player in them. This philosophy deals with first developing character in the players and then comes the fundamentals of football. Asay believes if these two aspects are successfully accomplished, then the wins and losses will take care of themselves.
“I want the young men to go through a football season conducting themselves appropriately and playing fundamentally sound football,” said Asay. “If we come out of this year and we look back and we say, ‘That was a well-disciplined unit that played fundamentally sound football,’ then we’ll be happy.”


Run, run and run some more
As far as X’s and O’s go, expect Morton to rely heavily on its offensive ground attack. Led by all-conference running back Menendez and all-conference offensive guard Yangas, the Mustangs might posses the most underrated ground game in the area. Bottom line, the offense will go as far as the line will take them.
The same can be said for the defensive side of the ball, which looks to improve on surrendering 44 points per game in 2007. If the offense can find a way to be balanced by sprinkling in the pass, then expect to see more points up on the scoreboard.
“The strength of the team is going to be the line of both sides,” Asay said. “We run a balanced offensive attack that is built on the running game.”

SENIOR SAYS
Moses Menendez
How has the transition gone from former head coach Tom Gullickson to new coach Tony Asay?
“Well, it doesn’t really matter between the coaches, it’s just the players. It’s becoming a family. Football is a family thing. This year is a big difference from last year because last year we weren’t staying together. But this year, we’re a family. To be a family, it’s a great thing now and we have a chance to win this year.”

Any certain game you’re looking forward to this season?
“Downers Grove South because they’re one of the best teams in the state. If we do well against them, it shows us where we’re at as a team.”

What held the team back from winning a game the past two seasons?
“Not being able to stay together as a team and we never kept out composure. We could never forget about a bad play. But, a lot of guys have stepped it up this offseason.”

What would call the theme of the season?
“We’re a family, we’re going to keep our composure and we’re going to get this win.”

BY THE NUMBERS
1985 Last year Morton had a winning record. Current varsity assistant coach Dave Chierico led the Mustangs to a 6-3 overall mark

2 Number of wins accumulated by Morton during the last five seasons

44 Average points per game Morton surrendered in 2007