Big rivalry. Big plays. Bad result.
No. 2 Mount Vernon said goodbye to First Street Field and their 15-game regular-season winning streak, falling to Solon, 37-20.
The next home game on Sept. 29, is expected to be at the new facility, Armstrong Field at the Martha Parsons Family Activities Complex. Against No. 7 Assumption for Homecoming.
Before that, the Mustangs get a chance to rinse out their loss to the Spartans with a trip to Mount Pleasant (0-4) on Friday.
“This week will be a character check,” Mount Vernon Coach Lance Pedersen said. “On Monday is the first time in over two years we’ve had to practice after a loss.
“They feel they let a lot of people down. It was one game. I know our kids will bounce back and be ready to go.”
Solon stunned the large, overflow crowd by rushing for 234 yards. That effort was led by sophomore running back Conlan Poynton with 205 yards on 19 carries with three touchdowns (runs of 58, 62 and 66 yards).
“That was the story of the game,” Pedersen said. “We were able to have some big passing plays. They were able to have some great running plays that gave them some quick scores.”
Mount Vernon countered those ground gains with 423 yards passing, with Joey Rhomberg completing 23-of-41, including 8 for 274 and two touchdowns to Evan Brase. Rhomberg also had a rushing TD.
But stalled drives and one bad turnover provided Solon with all it needed.
The Mustangs took drives down to the 3, 11 and 16, but came away with no points.
“Not being able to finish in the red zone hurts you,” Pedersen said. “And not being able to finish tackles hurts as well.”
In addition to Poynton’s long runs, the Spartans got a 16-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Bell to Nash Kotar, and a 78-yard scoop-and-score fumble recovery by Eddie Johnson.
It was a tough loss to their Hwy. 1 rivals after beating them twice last season. The first win broke a 19-game losing streak in the series, the second came in the playoffs.
So, there may be a rematch, yet, in 2023.
“I told our players, one game does not define our season, our team, or our program,” Pedersen said. “Our theme for this week is finish. And we’re going to focus on gang tackling and finishing our blocks.”
Spartans 37, Mustangs 20
TEAM STATS
SOL MV
First downs 16 20
Rushes-yds. 39-243 25-61
Pass yds. 153 423
Cmp.-Att.-Int. 10-14-0 23-42-0
Total yds. 396 484
Fum.-lost 1-1 1-0
Punts-ave.
Pen.-yds. 4-36 6-54
Solon 0 28 6 3 – 37
Mount Vernon 7 7 0 6 – 20
FIRST QUARTER
MV – Evan Brase 25-yard pass from Joey Rhomberg (Bennett Harp kick)
SECOND QUARTER
S – Nash Kotar 16-yard pass from Tyler Bell (Grant Knipper kick)
S – Conlan Poynton 58-yard run (Knipper kick)
S – Eddie Johnson 78-yard fumble return (Knipper kick)
MV – Brase 70-yard pass from Rhomberg (Harp kick)
S – Poynton 62-yard run (Knipper kick)
THIRD QUARTER
S – Poynton 66-yard run (kick failed)
FOURTH QUARTER
MV – Rhomberg 1-yard run (kick failed)
S – Knipper 33-yard field goal.
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing – Solon: Conlan Poynton 19-205, Eddie Johnson 10-36, Milo Ashbacke 3-4, Barret Schade 3-3, Brayden Moore 3-1, Tyler Bell 1-(-6). Mount Vernon: Jackson Hird 15-64, Jonah Williams 1-1, Joey Rhomberg 9-(-4).
Passing – Solon: Tyler Bell 10-13-153-0, Conlan Poynton 0-1-0-0. Mount Vernon: Joey Rhomberg 23-41-423-0, Jase Jasper 2 0-1-0-0.
Receiving – Solon: Grant Knipper 3-62, Nash Kotar 4-47, Eddie Johnson 2-32, Keenan Kruse 1-12. Mount Vernon: Evan Brase 8-264, Ethan Wood 5-107, Jase Jasper 2 5-24, Watson Krob 4-20, Jackson Hird 1-(-2).
Tackles (solo-assist) – Mount Vernon: Jackson Jaspers 5-5, Jase Jasper 4-3, Ethan Wood 2-5, Kael Riniker 5-1, Jonah Williams 2-3, Evan Brase 3-1, Miles Francois 2-2, Ethan Plotz 2-1, Nova Lane 2-1, Kellen Haverback 2-0, Cooper Hird 2-0, Jackson Hird 2-0, Michael Ryan 2-0, Jonah Williams 1-1, Joe Briesemeister 0-2, Benny Pospisil 0-1.
Tackles for loss – Mount Vernon: Jackson Jaspers 4.5, Ethan Wood 2, Tyler Williams 1.5, Jackson Hird 1, Joe Briesemeister 1, Miles Francois 1, Jase Jaspers .5, Benny Pospisil .5.
MV Football Agate Spartans 37, Mustangs 20 TEAM STATS SOL MV First downs 16 20 Rushes-yds. 39-243 25-61 Pass yds. 153 423 Cmp.-Att.-Int. 10-14-0 23-42-0 Total yds. 396 484 Fum.-lost 1-1 1-0 Punts-ave. Pen.-yds. 4-36 6-54 Solon 0 28 6 3 – 37 Mount Vernon 7 7 0 6 – 20 FIRST QUARTER MV – Evan Brase 25-yard pass from Joey Rhomberg (Bennett Harp kick) SECOND QUARTER S – Nash Kotar 16-yard pass from Tyler Bell (Grant Knipper kick) S – Conlan Poynton 58-yard run (Knipper kick) S – Eddie Johnson 78-yard fumble return (Knipper kick) MV – Brase 70-yard pass from Rhomberg (Harp kick) S – Poynton 62-yard run (Knipper kick) THIRD QUARTER S – Poynton 66-yard run (kick failed) FOURTH QUARTER MV – Rhomberg 1-yard run (kick failed) S – Knipper 33-yard field goal. INDIVIDUAL STATS Rushing – Solon: Conlan Poynton 19-205, Eddie Johnson 10-36, Milo Ashbacke 3-4, Barret Schade 3-3, Brayden Moore 3-1, Tyler Bell 1-(-6). Mount Vernon: Jackson Hird 15-64, Jonah Williams 1-1, Joey Rhomberg 9-(-4). Passing – Solon: Tyler Bell 10-13-153-0, Conlan Poynton 0-1-0-0. Mount Vernon: Joey Rhomberg 23-41-423-0, Jase Jasper 2 0-1-0-0. Receiving – Solon: Grant Knipper 3-62, Nash Kotar 4-47, Eddie Johnson 2-32, Keenan Kruse 1-12. Mount Vernon: Evan Brase 8-264, Ethan Wood 5-107, Jase Jasper 2 5-24, Watson Krob 4-20, Jackson Hird 1-(-2). Tackles (solo-assist) – Mount Vernon: Jackson Jaspers 5-5, Jase Jasper 4-3, Ethan Wood 2-5, Kael Riniker 5-1, Jonah Williams 2-3, Evan Brase 3-1, Miles Francois 2-2, Ethan Plotz 2-1, Nova Lane 2-1, Kellen Haverback 2-0, Cooper Hird 2-0, Jackson Hird 2-0, Michael Ryan 2-0, Jonah Williams 1-1, Joe Briesemeister 0-2, Benny Pospisil 0-1. Tackles for loss – Mount Vernon: Jackson Jaspers 4.5, Ethan Wood 2, Tyler Williams 1.5, Jackson Hird 1, Joe Briesemeister 1, Miles Francois 1, Jase Jaspers .5, Benny Pospisil .5.
Mount Vernon’s Jackson Jaspers (no. 21) works at tackling a Spartan player Friday, Sept. 15.