You never know what is going to be the difference for No. 2 Mount Vernon from week to week. Against No. 9 Benton Community on Friday at First Street Field, it was the punt return unit.
A blocked punt helped the Mustangs (3-0) grind out a 19-7 victory.
“That punt block was huge,” Mustang Coach Lance Pedersen said. “It came at a critical time and situation.”
With the Mustangs holding a 13-7 lead late in the second quarter, the Mount Vernon defense forced Benton Community into a three-and-out.
On fourth down, defensive lineman Nova Lane pushed past the Bobcat punt unit, blocked the kick, and recovered it.
“I just saw the gap and I just hit it really hard,” Lane said. “I couldn’t find the ball for a second.”
That gave Mount Vernon the ball back with 1:12 until halftime, with excellent field position at the Benton 30. Five plays later Joey Rhomberg connected with Evan Brase on a 15-yard touchdown reception on fourth-and-four.
The Mustangs took a two-score lead into half.
It was a dynamic moment in a slugfest.
The Bobcats (2-1) came in with a big O-line, having rolled up 87 points in blowout wins over Vinton-Shellsburg and Marion. They rushed for 348 yards against V-S and 287 against Marion.
Against Mount Vernon, they only had 93 rushing yards. And the Mustangs had 166 yards on the ground.
“We showed that we can establish the run game, and defend it, too,” Lane said.
“We knew by formation which way they were going to run the ball,” defensive back Jackson Jaspers said. “We decided to shift around a little bit, and had more guys on the side they were going to run the ball.”
Benton Community had 36 rushing yards during its first-half touchdown drive. The drive featured eight rushes and a penalty.
“We just made a few adjustments,” Pedersen said. “Our defensive staff and players did an outstanding job. The other three quarters, they didn’t do a whole lot.”
The Mustangs also got a little help Friday, recovering a high snap in the end zone for the first points of the game. Kael Riniker led a herd of Mustangs to the loose ball.
The second score came on a 4-yard pass from Joey Rhomberg to Evan Brase with 8:44 left in the second quarter. It capped off a 58-yard drive set up by a kickoff return from Jackson Jaspers.
Rhomberg finished with 95 yards on 9-of-16 passing. Jackson Hurd had 147 rushing yards on 25 carries.
Mount Vernon won the freshman/sophomore game 49-13.
This week the Mustangs host Hwy. 1 rivals Solon on Friday at First Street Field. It may be the final game at the old stadium.
Mount Vernon won twice against Solon last season, breaking a 19-game losing streak in the long-running series.
“I think it is different now,” Jackson Jaspers said. “There is not as much fear of losing. Obviously, we still want to win and we’re not going to take it lightly.”
Mustangs 19, Bobcats 7
At First Street Field
TEAM STATS
BC MV
First downs 10 15
Rush-yds. 36-93 34-166
Pass yds. 56 95
Att.-comp.-int. 5-10-0 9-16-0
Total yds. 149 261
Fum-lost 2-1 0-0
Punts-ave. 4-32.5 5-32.4
Pen.-yds. 3-35 5-35
Benton Community 0 7 0 0 – 7
Mount Vernon 13 6 0 0 – 19
FIRST QUARTER
MV – Kael Riniker fumble recovery 0 yards (Bennett Harp kick) 10:39.
BC – Carson Bruns 2 run (Elijah Kupka kick) :07.
SECOND QUARTER
MV – Ethan Wood 4=yard pass from Joey Rhomberg (kick failed) 8:44.
MV – Evan Brase 15-yard pass from Joey Rhomberg (pass failed) :36.
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing – Benton: Carson Bruns 24-90, Owen Tjelmeland 10-(-4), Easton Pfiffner 1-6, Brenden Heying 1-1. MV: Jackson Hurd 25-147, Joey Rhomberg 7-13, Jase Jaspers 2-6.
Passing – Benton: Owen Tjelmeland 5-10-56-0. MV: Joey Rhomberg 9-16-95-0.
Receiving – Benton: Easton Phiffner 5-56. MV: Jackson Hurd 4-29, Ethan Wood 2-26, Jase Jaspers 1-18, Evan Brase 1-15, Miles Francois 1-7.
Tackles – Mount Vernon (solo-assists-TFL): Kael Riniker 5-4-2, Jase Jaspers 3-7-.5, Ethan Plotz 4-4-0, Miles Francois 3-3-2.5, Nova Lane 3-3-.5, Ethan Wood 2-3-.5, Cole Thurn 0-4-0, Michael Ryan 2-1-0, Tyler Williams 1-2-.5, Evan Brase 2-0-0, Benny Pospisil 1-1-0, Joe Briesemeister 0-1-0, Jayce Pendergrass 0-1-0, Atticus Rood 0-1-0, Jaxon Anderson 0-1-0, Jackson Hird 0-1-0.
Mustangs 19, Bobcats 7 At First Street Field TEAM STATS BC MV First downs 10 15 Rush-yds. 36-93 34-166 Pass yds. 56 95 Att.-comp.-int. 5-10-0 9-16-0 Total yds. 149 261 Fum-lost 2-1 0-0 Punts-ave. 4-32.5 5-32.4 Pen.-yds. 3-35 5-35 BC 0 7 0 0 – 7 MV 13 6 0 0 – 19 FIRST QUARTER MV – Kael Riniker fumble recovery 0 yards (Bennett Harp kick) 10:39. BC – Carson Bruns 2 run (Elijah Kupka kick) :07. SECOND QUARTER MV – Ethan Wood 4=yard pass from Joey Rhomberg (kick failed) 8:44. MV – Evan Brase 15-yard pass from Joey Rhomberg (pass failed) :36. INDIVIDUAL STATS Rushing – Benton: Carson Bruns 24-90, Owen Tjelmeland 10-(-4), Easton Pfiffner 1-6, Brenden Heying 1-1. MV: Jackson Hurd 25-147, Joey Rhomberg 7-13, Jase Jaspers 2-6. Passing – Benton: Owen Tjelmeland 5-10-56-0. MV: Joey Rhomberg 9-16-95-0. Receiving – Benton: Easton Phiffner 5-56. MV: Jackson Hurd 4-29, Ethan Wood 2-26, Jase Jaspers 1-18, Evan Brase 1-15, Miles Francois 1-7. Tackles – Mount Vernon (solo-assists-TFL): Kael Riniker 5-4-2, Jase Jaspers 3-7-.5, Ethan Plotz 4-4-0, Miles Francois 3-3-2.5, Nova Lane 3-3-.5, Ethan Wood 2-3-.5, Cole Thurn 0-4-0, Michael Ryan 2-1-0, Tyler Williams 1-2-.5, Evan Brase 2-0-0, Benny Pospisil 1-1-0, Joe Briesemeister 0-1-0, Jayce Pendergrass 0-1-0, Atticus Rood 0-1-0, Jaxon Anderson 0-1-0, Jackson Hird 0-1-0.
A group of Mount Vernon defenders including Ben Pospisil (No. 38) and Miles Francois (No. 30) work at tackling a Benton player.