The Mount Vernon football team dropped its opening game in
heartbreaking style.
The Yellow Jackets missed chances on the final play of both
the first half and the fourth quarter and dropped a 21-14 decision to visiting
Marion Harding on Aug. 22.
Mount Vernon, which trailed 21-7 in the fourth quarter,
drove the ball down the field from its own 10-yard line, but the final pass was
broken up in the end zone.
The game started well for the Jackets, who marched right
down the field in their opening drive to score. A first down on a fourth and
two call from their own 43-yard line helped the Jackets keep possession.
Quarterback Mason Richards capped off the drive with a 1-yard plunge to open
the scoring.
Harding, after being slowed for most of the first half,
finally got on the board midway through the second quarter. Going for it on
fourth down, quarterback Dez Feliciano hit Ray J Harbolt for a 15-yard scoring
strike to knot the game at seven. Harbolt outjumped a couple of MV defenders to
pull in the pass and score.
After shutting down the Jackets in three straight plays,
Harding went deep into the playbook for a halfback pass to set up another quick
score. Jaden Griffith hit Harbolt with a 59-yard pass to the 2-yard line on the
trick play. Landen Keller capped off the quick drive with a TD run.
Mount Vernon tried to come back, moving to the Harding
10-yard line with time running out. But, Richards was sacked with six seconds
left, ending the Jackets’ scoring threat.
The Presidents pushed the lead to 21-7 with another TD pass
from Feliciano to Harbolt early in the fourth quarter.
The Jackets responded with a 62-yard drive, capped off by a
1-yard rushing touchdown by Richards to pull within a score.
Shutting down the Presidents, Mount Vernon got the ball back
at its own 10 with a chance to tie it up. But, the Jackets weren’t able to
connect on the potential tying score and fell.
Richards ended the night by completing 14 of 27 passes for
149 yards. He also ran the ball 22 times for 91 yards and the two scores. Jake
Hubbard ran the ball just four times, but rushed for 25 yards. Dammon Wolfe
caught four passes for 41 yards and Landon Dawson caught two for 14 yards.
Defensively, Luke Mullins led the Jackets with seven solo
tackles and one assist. He also caused a fumble. Austin May added seven solo
tackles.
Danville rolls past Warriors
After a tight first half, the Danville football team put the
clinches on host Worthington Christian on Friday.
The Blue Devils led just 22-13 at halftime, but shut out the
Warriors in the second and rolled to a 35-13 victory in the opening game of the
season.
Cyren Wallace led a potent Danville offensive attack,
rushing for 187 yards on 24 carries and three touchdowns. Quarterback Nolan
Ridgway added 25 yards rushing on six carries and Briggs Wallace had 23 on just
two carries. Danville rushed for 279 yards as a team.
Ridgway hit on 12 of 31 passes for 122 yards with a
touchdown and an interception. Cyren Wallace caught four of those passes for 29
yards, while Wesley Payne had three receptions for 33 yards, and Carson Proper
had two catches for 23 yards and a score.
Worthington Christian managed just 40 yards rushing on 17
carries, but did connect on 17 of 37 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns.
The Blue Devils did pick off three passes.
Payne led the defense with nine tackles and an interception.
Proper, Landon King and Brycen Burke each added eight tackles, while Sylas
Mizer had seven. Owen Gronberg checked in with six tackles and a sack.
Big plays lead Freddies to victory
Brode Davis had two big touchdowns as the Fredericktown
football team won its opening game, 21-6, over visiting Highland.
Davis rushed for a 76-yard touchdown and caught a pass for
another 13-yard score in leading the Freddies to the victory. Davis ended the
night with 100 yards rushing on just three carries and caught two passes for 42
yards.
Blake Sipes rushed for 60 yards and completed 5 of 10 passes
for 78 yards and the score. Cirk Parker also scored a touchdown for the
Freddies.
Defensively, the Freddies held Highland to just 141 yards of
offense. Kamdyn Clutter led the defense with 16 tackles, including 11 solo. Cash
Parker added 13 tackles and a fumble recovery, while Kooper Auker and Nick
McFerren each had 11 tackles.
Centerburg cruises to opening win
The Centerburg football team wasted no time in exploding to
a 34-0 victory over Utica.
The Trojans scored on 80- and 90-yard pass plays in the
first five minutes of the game en route to the victory. Quarterback Blane Ball
and Hayden Love hooked up for both of those long scores.
The duo was at it again in the second quarter, connecting on
a 39-yard score, then added a 20-yard hookup for another score in the third.
Shawn Carter finished off the Redskins with a 27-yard touchdown run in the
third.
Ball finished the night completing 10 of 16 passes for 280
yards and the four scores. Love caught five of those passes for 240 yards. Ball
also rushed for 84 yards on the night, including a 79-yarder. Jackson Ballinger
caught three passes for 20 yards and Miles Marshall hauled in two passes for 20
yards.
The Centerburg defense held Utica to just 95 yards rushing
and 151 through the air.
East Knox fall short against Northridge
The East Knox football team opened its season with a
heart-breaking 25-24 loss to visiting Northridge.
The Bulldogs scored in each quarter, but a 10-spot by the
Vikings in the first and 15 more in the fourth gave them the victory.
Jax Lester led the Bulldogs with 227 yards passing and three
touchdowns. He connected on 18 of 30 passes on the night. Logan Clark was his
favorite target, catching six passes for 103 yards and two scores. Rush Beatty
caught five passes for 33 yards and a touchdown, while Cason Faucett caught
five passes for 66 yards. Landon Boyd was the team’s leading rusher with 71
yards on 10 carries, including one touchdown.
Defensively, Lester led the way with 11 tackles, including
one for a loss. Boyd had 7.5 tackles, while Caden Ridenour and Ray Arnold each
had six.
The Vikings were led by Brayden Bingham, who rushed for 239
yards and three touchdowns. He scored on runs of 18, 22 and 80 yards.
