Mount Vernon holds off Central DeWitt

By Isaac Stevens

MOUNT VERNON – No. 9 Mount Vernon (6-1) defeated Central DeWitt (3-4) Friday night at the Martha Parsons and Family Activities Complex, the score being 17-10.

This win proved to be important for the Mustangs, as they stand alone at the top of the 3A-3 standings.

The game was not easily handed to Mount Vernon though.

Within the first minute the Sabers found a hole and rushed for 70 yards. And early, the strong Central DeWitt team saw themselves at 1st and goal at the seven yard line.

However, Mount Vernon was not going to allow them to score easily, so the Mustangs made three consecutive good defensive plays and forced the field goal by Central DeWitt. 

This grit is what the Mustangs played with all night.

“Our team just kept fighting,” said Mount Vernon head coach Brad Meester. “The defense just kept fighting, found a way to keep them out and limited them to a field goal. That’s huge.”

After the first quarter where the Mustangs had four more first downs than the Sabers, Mount Vernon quickly settled in. 

In the first minute of the second quarter, Mount Vernon running back Jakob Yock maneuvered his way to the end zone for a two yard score. 

“When I’m running the ball I think ‘I got to do it for my line. I got to do it for the receivers’”, Yock said. “And they think the same thing. ‘I got to do it for Yock. I got to do it for Yock.”

He finished the night with 202 total offensive yards, headlined by 187 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.

The Sabers put up another zero in the second quarter, and did the same in the third. The only score in that span was a 35 yard field goal by Mustangs kicker Jack Carnes.

So going into the fourth, Mount Vernon was up just 10-3.

Then drama started to unfold. 

Central DeWitt quarterback Jacob Meier found receiver Jameson Gregoire open for a 12 yard passing touchdown.

Tied game with 10 minutes to go.

Yock immediately responded with a 22 yard run, and the Mustangs had the ball at the Sabers 38 yard line.

Then the play of the night happened.

Mustangs quarterback Noah Olsen came set to throw the ball, but nobody was open. He attempted to scramble, and came inches away from getting sacked. Olsen managed to get free, and then he saw an open receiver in Graham Yanda, and connected with him for the 35 yard touchdown. 

After the game, Olsen gave all the credit to his teammates.

“They played great all night. We really needed that (win), and it was really great.” said Olsen.

With around two minutes left, the Sabers regained their possession and looked to tie up the game. So their quarterback, looking for a big yardage gain, saw a receiver and threw it way down the field.

The Mustangs defensive back Easton Roseland was there, and caught it for the interception, clinching the Mustangs the 17-10 victory.

Mount Vernon defensive back duo Teddy Bonewald came up clutch with a handful of clutch plays on the defensive end, while Holden Hlavacek forced two interceptions. These two were only two of many who contributed greatly on the defensive side.

“We’re not going to take the elevator to the championship,” said Meester. “We got to take the stairs, and that’s one step at a time.”

Mount Vernon 0 7 3 7 – 17
Central DeWitt 3 0 0 7 – 10

CD – FG Jonathan Garrison 27
MV – Jakob Yock 2 run (Jack Carnes kick)
MV – Graham Yanda 35 pass from Noah Olsen (Carnes kick)
CD – Jameson Gregoire 12 pass from Jacob Meier (Garrison kick