No. 10 Mount Vernon was going to take out its frustrations on some team.
Mount Pleasant, we hardly knew ya.
The Mustangs finished with the second-highest game score in school history Friday, pile-driving the Panthers 76-14 in Mount Pleasant.
“We came out ready to play a football game,” Mount Vernon Coach Lance Pedersen said. “It was not a game we were going to overlook. We wanted to show exactly who we were.”
The Mustangs scored nine touchdowns by halftime and added two more in the second half to tie the 1974 team that beat Clear Creek-Amana. (The top scoring game remains the 2016 team that beat Camanche by scoring 78 points.)
Mount Vernon (4-1, 2-0 Class 3A, District 4) scored in all three phases. That included three pick-sixes. Returning interceptions for touchdowns were Miles Francois (28 yards), Erik Lamb (42 yards) and Jake Haugse (85 yards).
“Miles dropped into coverage and made a really nice play on the ball,” Pedersen said. “Lamb is a reserve who is just coming off an injury.
“Then Jake, he was covering a guy that just a series before got a touchdown pass over the top of him. So it was a little redemption for him. I was happy he was able to do that.”
Mount Vernon also got a special teams score when Nova Lane recovered a blocked punt in the end zone in the first quarter. It was blocked by Kael Riniker.
Offensively, the Mustangs only outgained the Panthers 306 yards to 267, but Pedersen said he started subbing out his starters in the first quarter.
“That was one of rewarding things, the guys who work so hard in practice, scout team guys, got a lot of opportunities to step out on the field,” Pedersen said. “They did a great job, as well.”
Joey Rhomberg had three passing touchdowns and threw for 157 yards on 10 attempts. TD passes went o Jase Jasper (54 yards), Michael Ryan (4 yards), Evan Brase (30 yards). In addition, back up QB Kellen Haverback connected with Cooper Hird for a 35-yard score.
Jackson Hird had a pair of rushing touchdowns and Cooper Hird scored a third. The Hird brothers combined for 109 rushing yards.
A fun, stress-free victory might not be in the cards this week, as the Mustangs welcome No. 7 Davenport Assumption (4-1, 1-0) on Friday. It is the first game at the new Armstrong Field at the Martha Parsons Family Activities Complex.
It is also homecoming.
“Only a coach might say this, but homecoming is never my favorite week.” Pedersen said. “There are a lot of things taking place, and we want our guys to have a good experience.
“But Assumption is a very good opponent. With the new field … change is a challenge. But we are looking forward to seeing how that works out.”
Mustangs 76, Panthers 14
TEAM STATS
MV MTP
First downs 16 9
Rushes-yds. 20-114 30-162
Pass yds. 192 105
Total yards 306 267
Cmp.-Att.-Int. 9-11-0 2-12-5
Fum.-list 1-1 1-0
Pen.-yds. 2-15 5-44
Mount Vernon 35 27 7 7 – 76
Mount Pleasant 0 0 7 7 – 14
FIRST QUARTER
MV – Jase Jasper 54-yard pass from Rhomberg (Bennett Harp kick)
MV – Miles Francois 28-yard interception return (Harp kick)
MV – Jackson Hird 6-yard run (Harp kick)
MV – Nova Lane 0-yard fumble recovery (Harp kick)
MV – Michael Ryan 4-yard pass from Rhomberg (Harp kick)
SECOND QUARTER
MV – Evan Brase30-yard pass from Rhomberg (kick failed)
MV – Jackson Hird 23-yard run (Collin Crawford kick)
MV – Erik Lamb 42-yard interception return (Crawford kick)
MV – Cooper Hird 35-yard pass from Kellen Haverback (Crawford kick)
THIRD QUARTER
MV – Cooper Hird 8-yard run (Crawford kick)
MTP – Coleman 75-yard pass from Walker (2) (Leblanc kick)
MV – Jake Haugse 85-yard interception return (Crawford kick)
MTP – Coleman (8) 30-yard pass from Walker (Leblanc kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing – MV: Cooper Hird 10-63, Jackson Hird 5-46, Joey Rhomberg 1-5, Kellen Haverback 1-5, Cole Thurn 1-1, Team 2-(-6). MTP: Walker (2) 18-132, Kohorst (56) 3-32, Borders (55) 2-7, Newman (4) 2-(-4), Coleman (15) 5-(-5).
Passing – MV: Rhomberg 8-10-157-0, Haverback 1-1-35-0. MTP: Walker 2-10-105-3, Coleman 0-2-0-2.
Receiving – MV:Jase Jaspers 3-84, Evan Brase 3-48, Cooper Hird 1-35, Michael Ryan 2-25. MTP: Coleman 2-105.
Tackles (solo-assist-total) – MV: Caleb Keegan 3-2-7, Kael Riniker 3-2-4, Benny Pospisil 2-4-4, Jackson Jaspers 1-6-4, Ethan Wood 1-4-3, Tyler Williams 1-4-3, Jake Haugse 2-1-2.5, Jackson Hird 2-1-2.5, Erik Lamb 2-0-2, Jaks Lee 2-0-2, Aaron Bellamy 1-2-2, Jayce Pendergrass 1-2-2, Jaxon Anderson 1-0-1, Joe Briesemeister 1-0-1, Thomas Rhomberg 1-0-1, Mason Pinckney 0-1-.5, Ethan Plotz 0-1-.5, Nova Lane 0-1-.5, Evan Brase 0-1-.5, Jacob Yock 0-1-.5.
MVFB Agate Mustangs 76, Panthers 14 TEAM STATS MV MTP First downs 16 9 Rushes-yds. 20-114 30-162 Pass yds. 192 105 Total yards 306 267 Cmp.-Att.-Int. 9-11-0 2-12-5 Fum.-list 1-1 1-0 Pen.-yds. 2-15 5-44 Mount Vernon 35 27 7 7 – 76 Mount Pleasant 0 0 7 7 – 14 FIRST QUARTER MV – Jase Jasper 54-yard pass from Rhomberg (Bennett Harp kick) MV – Miles Francois 28-yard interception return (Harp kick) MV – Jackson Hird 6-yard run (Harp kick) MV – Nova Lane 0-yard fumble recovery (Harp kick) MV – Michael Ryan 4-yard pass from Rhomberg (Harp kick) SECOND QUARTER MV – Evan Brase30-yard pass from Rhomberg (kick failed) MV – Jackson Hird 23-yard run (Collin Crawford kick) MV – Erik Lamb 42-yard interception return (Crawford kick) MV – Cooper Hird 35-yard pass from Kellen Haverback (Crawford kick) THIRD QUARTER MV – Cooper Hird 8-yard run (Crawford kick) MTP – Coleman 75-yard pass from Walker (2) (Leblanc kick) MV – Jake Haugse 85-yard interception return (Crawford kick) MTP – Coleman (8) 30-yard pass from Walker (Leblanc kick) INDIVIDUAL STATS Rushing – MV: Cooper Hird 10-63, Jackson Hird 5-46, Joey Rhomberg 1-5, Kellen Haverback 1-5, Cole Thurn 1-1, Team 2-(-6). MTP: Walker (2) 18-132, Kohorst (56) 3-32, Borders (55) 2-7, Newman (4) 2-(-4), Coleman (15) 5-(-5). Passing – MV: Rhomberg 8-10-157-0, Haverback 1-1-35-0. MTP: Walker 2-10-105-3, Coleman 0-2-0-2. Receiving – MV:Jase Jaspers 3-84, Evan Brase 3-48, Cooper Hird 1-35, Michael Ryan 2-25. MTP: Coleman 2-105. Tackles (solo-assist-total) – MV: Caleb Keegan 3-2-7, Kael Riniker 3-2-4, Benny Pospisil 2-4-4, Jackson Jaspers 1-6-4, Ethan Wood 1-4-3, Tyler Williams 1-4-3, Jake Haugse 2-1-2.5, Jackson Hird 2-1-2.5, Erik Lamb 2-0-2, Jaks Lee 2-0-2, Aaron Bellamy 1-2-2, Jayce Pendergrass 1-2-2, Jaxon Anderson 1-0-1, Joe Briesemeister 1-0-1, Thomas Rhomberg 1-0-1, Mason Pinckney 0-1-.5, Ethan Plotz 0-1-.5, Nova Lane 0-1-.5, Evan Brase 0-1-.5, Jacob Yock 0-1-.5.
Mustangs stampede over Panthers 76-14
September 28, 2023
About the Contributor
Ryan Suchomel, Sports Reporter
Ryan Suchomel is a sports reporter for the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun.