The Mount Vernon varsity football squad has a tough act to follow — its own.
In the team’s 2022 season, the Mustangs finished first in team standings in 3A District 4, while boasting the district’s Offensive Player of the Year (Joey Rhomberg), Offensive Lineman of the Year (Clark Younggreen), Defensive Player of the Year (Jackson Jaspers), and Kicker of the Year (Ben Crock).
Rhomberg and Jaspers each return to the team as seniors for the 2023 campaign.
Last year’s season will likely long be remembered as the first time the Mustangs defeated the Solon Spartans in 19 years — a feat rendered even more dramatic when they defeated them again a couple of months later in the Class 3A Quarterfinals.
The team made it all the way to the state championship for the first time since 2015, but ultimately fell to repeat champions the Harlan Cyclones 30-23.
“The fun thing about this is it’s been a total team effort by all of our players and coaches,” Mustangs head coach Lance Pedersen said at the time. “So many guys can be so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish.”
Pedersen further credited what he called “the best student section in the state.”
The Mustangs wrapped the season with a record of 12-1.
Mount Vernon Football 2023
Coaching Staff
Head Coach Lance Pedersen
Assistant Coach Matt Appleton
Assistant Coach Colton Clark
Assistant Coach Brandon Glaza
Assistant Coach Daniel Ketchum
Assistant Coach Ben Knake
Assistant Coach Preston Pedersen
Gunnar Fishler Junior K
1 Watson Krob Junior WR/DB
2 Aylinn Feddersen Junior WR/DB
3 Michael Ryan Soph WR/DB
5 Ethan Plotz Senior WR/DB
7 Evan Brase Senior WR/DB
9 Joey Rhomberg Senior QB
10 Cooper Hird Junior RB/DB
11 Bennett Harp Junior K/P
12 Kellen Haverback Soph QB
14 Jaks Lee Junior WR/DB
15 Collin Crawford Senior K/P
16 Jakob Haugse Junior WR/DB
19 Cole Thurn Junior WR/DB
21 Jackson Jaspers Senior WR/LB
22 Ethan Wood Junior WR/DL
24 Jase Jaspers Soph WR/DB
25 Jackson Hird Senior RB/LB
30 Miles Francois Senior WR/LB
31 Mason Pinkney Senior WR/DB
33 Atticus Rood Senior WR/LB
34 Jonah Williams Senior RB/LB
38 Ben Pospisil Senior RB/LB
42 Jaxon Anderson Soph. RB/LB
52 Jayce Pendergrass Senior OG/LB
56 Joe Briesemeister Junior OT/LB
58 Brody Nosek Junior OT/LB
60 Tavian Gorsch Senior OT/DL
61 Ian Shady Senior OG/DL
62 Kael Riniker Junior OG/DL
63 Will Errington Senior OG/DL
66 Paul Goslin Senior C/DL
69 Nova Lane Junior OT/LB
70 Aaron Bellamy Junior OG/LB
75 Dominic Kocher Junior OT/DL
79 Andrew Heck Senior OG/DL
80 Eric Lamb Junior WR/DB
89 Luke Paulus Junior WR/DB
MV FB roster Mount Vernon Football 2023 Coaching Staff Head Coach Lance Pedersen Assistant Coach Matt Appleton Assistant Coach Colton Clark Assistant Coach Brandon Glaza Assistant Coach Daniel Ketchum Assistant Coach Ben Knake Assistant Coach Preston Pedersen Gunnar Fishler Junior K 1 Watson Krob Junior WR/DB 2 Aylinn Feddersen Junior WR/DB 3 Michael Ryan Soph WR/DB 5 Ethan Plotz Senior WR/DB 7 Evan Brase Senior WR/DB 9 Joey Rhomberg Senior QB 10 Cooper Hird Junior RB/DB 11 Bennett Harp Junior K/P 12 Kellen Haverback Soph QB 14 Jaks Lee Junior WR/DB 15 Collin Crawford Senior K/P 16 Jakob Haugse Junior WR/DB 19 Cole Thurn Junior WR/DB 21 Jackson Jaspers Senior WR/LB 22 Ethan Wood Junior WR/DL 24 Jase Jaspers Soph WR/DB 25 Jackson Hird Senior RB/LB 30 Miles Francois Senior WR/LB 31 Mason Pinkney Senior WR/DB 33 Atticus Rood Senior WR/LB 34 Jonah Williams Senior RB/LB 38 Ben Pospisil Senior RB/LB 42 Jaxon Anderson Soph. RB/LB 52 Jayce Pendergrass Senior OG/LB 56 Joe Briesemeister Junior OT/LB 58 Brody Nosek Junior OT/LB 60 Tavian Gorsch Senior OT/DL 61 Ian Shady Senior OG/DL 62 Kael Riniker Junior OG/DL 63 Will Errington Senior OG/DL 66 Paul Goslin Senior C/DL 69 Nova Lane Junior OT/LB 70 Aaron Bellamy Junior OG/LB 75 Dominic Kocher Junior OT/DL 79 Andrew Heck Senior OG/DL 80 Eric Lamb Junior WR/DB 89 Luke Paulus Junior WR/DB