To say that Mount Vernon cleaned up in the Class 3A, District 4 postseason honors would be an understatement.
The Mustangs swept all four major awards, and placed 11 players on the first team. (Davenport Assumption also had 11 first-team picks.)
“Going into that meeting I didn’t know what I was going to come out with, so I was happy,” Mount Vernon coach Lance Pedersen said.
Senior quarterback Joey Rhomberg was the Offensive Player of the Year and senior linebacker Jackson Jaspers was Defensive Player of the Year.
Rhomberg threw for 2,349 yards on 173 of 276 passing (62.7 percent). He had 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also had 201 rushing yards and 10 TDs on 60 carries.
His yardage total was the fourth-best in school history.
“As far as I’m concerned, Joey is the best quarterback in the state of iowa,” Pedersen said. “He has the ability to make the pass going left, right, deep, short, big window, small window.
“Just amazing young man and amazing quarterback.”
Jaspers led the team with 66.5 tackles, including 15.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.
“Jackson Jaspers has been the heartbeat of our defense for the last three years,” Pedersen said. “He’s the eraser. If something goes wrong, he erases it, he fixes it. He has a great nose for the football and is tough as nails.”
Also, senior Andrew Heck was named the Offensive Lineman of the Year and junior Ethan Wood was named the Defensive Lineman of the Year.
“Andrew was, without a doubt, our most consistent lineman,” Pedersen said of the 6-foot-8, 310-pound right guard. “I never had to worry about him.”
Wood had 36 tackles, including 17 for loss, and a team-high 10.5 sacks, which set a Mustang single-season record, breaking the old mark of nine by Brad Vislisel in 2022.
“Ethan was a dominant defensive player,” Pedersen said. “And only a junior. I’m really excited to see what he can accomplish next year as well.”
Those four all were first team picks, and were joined by senior receiver and D-back Evan Brase, senior running back Jackson Hird, junior O-lineman Joe Briesemeister, junior D-lineman Tyler Williams, sophomore defensive back and return specialist Jase Jaspers.
Brase became just the second Mustang receiver to top 1,000 yards for a season (1,042). The record is held by Connor Hermann, with 1,410 in 2015.
Six Mustangs earned second-team honors: senior offensive lineman Tavian Gorsch, junior utility Ethan Wood, senior defensive lineman Miles Francois, junior linebacker Nova Lnae, sophomore defensive back Mikey Ryan and senior defensive back Ethan Plotz.
Class 3A, District 4
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Joey Rhomberg, Mount Vernon
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jackson Jaspers, Mount Vernon
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR
Andrew Heck, Mount Vernon
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR
Ethan Wood, Mount Vernon
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB Jake Timmons, sr., Assumption
QB Joey Rhomberg, sr., Mount Vernon
WR/TE Bauer Caspers, sr., Assumption
WR/TE Chase Eckland, sr., Keokuk
WR/TE Evan Brase, sr., Mount Vernon
RB Jackson Angelo, sr., Assumption
RB Hayden Segoviano, sr., Fort Madison
RB Malachi Douglas, sr., Keokuk
RB Jackson Hird, sr., Mount Vernon
OL Rhett Schaeffer, sr., Assumption
OL Ralph Armstrong, sr., Assumption
OL Isaac Thatcher, sr., Fort Madison
OL Andrew Heck, sr., Mount Vernon
OL Joe Briesemeister, jr., Mount Vernon
UT Dominic D’Aprile, sr., Assumption
K Billy Moore, sr., Assumption
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL Rhett Schaefer, sr., Assumption
DL Isaac Thatcher, sr., Fort Madison
DL Tyler Williams, jr., Mount Vernon
DL Ethan Wood, jr., Mount Vernon
LB Keaton O’Neil, jr., Assumption
LB Teague Smith, sr., Fort Madison
LB Mason Claus, so., Keokuk
LB Jackson Jaspers, sr., Mount Vernon
DB Will McIntosh, sr., Assumption
DB Carson Bakay, sr., Assumption
DB Evan Brase, sr., Mount Vernon
DB Jase Jaspers, so., Mount Vernon
P Lucas Swainey, sr., Keokuk
SP Jase Jaspers, so., Mount Vernon
UT Cory Arnett, jr., Fort Madison