Big plays fuel Mount Vernon’s fifth straight win over Licking Heights

In learning how to win, the Mount Vernon football team is also learning how to put away a team when the opportunity arises.

A huge defensive play sparked a 28-point run by the Yellow Jackets and led them to a 42-13 Licking County League victory Friday over visiting Licking Heights.

The Jackets led 14-7 midway through the second quarter when Landon Dawson and the defense came up with a huge play to turn the tide heavily in their favor. A punt had pinned the Hornets on their own two-yard line when Dawson sacked Heights’ quarterback J.J. Shackleford for a momentum changing safety. The Jackets never looked back.

MV (6-2 overall, 3-0 LCL) scored four straight touchdowns and went on to pummel the Hornets (1-7, 0-3). The win was the fifth straight for Mount Vernon.

The Jackets got things going early, scoring on a 2-yard run by Luke Mullins late in the first quarter. Licking Heights fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Jackets made it pay when Mason Richards rumbled 35 yards for another touchdown.

The Hornets tried to claw their way back into the game, scoring on the next drive to pull within seven. That’s when things changed in a hurry.

Following the safety, Dawson took over offensively for MV. He scored on a 28-yard run a few minutes later, then added an 13-yard TD reception from Richards late in the half.

The Jackets scored twice more in the third, both passes by Richards. Dawson caught a 14-yarder on the first drive of the third quarter, then Grayson Deem caught one for 23 yards to blow the game wide open.

Richards finished the game with 107 yards rushing and another 104 through the air on 5 of 10 passing. Dawson added 81 yards rushing and caught two TD passes for a total of 24 yards. Deem caught five passes for 54 yards and a score, while Bryce Kreager caught two for 26 yards.

Defensively, Mullins led the Jackets with five tackles. Dawson added four and a sack, while Lincoln Wilson, Ben Fitzpatrick and Lane Mussard each had three tackles. Two of Mussard’s tackles were sacks, while Fitzpatrick had one sack. MV limited Licking Heights to just 75 yards rushing and 97 through the air on the night.

Centerburg rolls past Danville

Centerburg’s offense has been credited as a big reason the Trojans have been rolling through opponents, especially in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference.

But, Friday it was the defense’s turn to do the deed.

The Trojans returned two interceptions for touchdowns, as well as scoring on a punt return, to beat Danville, 44-14.

Defensive back Miles Marshall started the game off on the right foot for Centerburg, intercepting a Danville pass and returning it 21 yards for the TD. Hayden Love then took a Danville punt 45 yards to the house and the Trojans were well on their way to victory.

Tommy Hause added a 62-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory for Centerburg (7-1 overall, 5-0 KMAC).

The offense did its part, as well. Marshall, a running back, ran for two scores (21 and 2 yards), and quarterback Blane Ball ran it in from 8 yards out for another.

Marshall finished the night with 85 yards rushing to lead Centerburg. Ball added 58 yards on the ground and connected on 7 of 11 passes for another 74 yards. Jackson Ballinger caught three of those passes for 57 yards.

Cyren Wallace led the Blue Devils (4-4, 2-3) with 85 yards rushing, including a 58-yard TD run. Quarterback Parker Proper added 62 yards on the ground and connected on 6 of 14 passes for another 74 yards. Justice Tharp caught three passes for 26 yards, while Camden Horn had two receptions for 28 yards.

Defensively, Christopher Mosher had six tackles to lead Danville. Nolan Ridgway, Sylas Mizer and Jacob Byers each had five.

Freddies cruise past East Knox

Fredericktown rushed for 300 yards as a team and went on to beat East Knox, 28-19, in a Knox Morrow Athletic Conference game at East Knox.

Cirk Parker led the Freddies (7-1 overall, 4-1 KMAC), which scored one touchdown in each of the four quarters, with 146 yards rushing and all four touchdowns. Blake Sipes connected on 3 of 4 passes for 36 yards. Griffin Gerver caught one pass for 19 yards.

East Knox (1-7, 1-4) was led by Jax Lester, who completed 11 of 24 passes for 172 yards and also rushed for 26 yards and a score. Cason Faucett caught the TD pass.