Mount Vernon, coming off back-to-back district losses, got up off the mat in a big way and took it to Davenport Assumption 42-6 on Friday, Oct. 24, at Jack & Pat Bush Stadium in Davenport.
With the win, Mount Vernon (6-3, 3-2) claimed the runner-up spot in District 3, and earned one of 16 playoff spots in 3A.
“Obviously, our backs were against the wall,” Mount Vernon coach Brad Meester said. “We had to win, and we had to win by a couple of scores, to get in. The team responded.
“There was a determination. They knew what needed to be done.”
It was clear from the start that this was not the same team that lost close games to Central DeWitt and Dubuque Wahlert the past two weeks.
On the second offensive play, senior Jaxon Anderson crashed through the Assumption line for a tackle in the back field. That led to a 3-and-out for the Knights.
“He does a lot,” Meester said of Anderson. “We kind of got back to our roots on defense and had Jaxon up on the line in the game. He’s a terror up there; he’s tough.”
Anderson had five tackles for loss in the game, including two sacks.
Mount Vernon then marched 9 plays and 77 yards (87 if you count two penalties) and scored on a 4-yard TD run by quarterback Kellen Haverback.
The senior QB, known more for his throwing arm, has been running it more, of late. He finished with a team-high 59 rushing yards Friday.
“That’s scary as a coach, to run your quarterback,” Meester said. “But we’re in playoff mode, and he’s a tremendous athlete with tremendous running ability.
“Kellen has embraced it and does not cower from taking a hit.”
Haverback was still sharp as a passer, too, throwing for 242 yards on 17-of-25 passing.
Sophomore Holden Hlavacek had four catches for 145 yards and two scores. Senior Mikey Ryan had seven receptions for 96 yards.
Hlavacek came up big with a 66-yard TD catch and a 33-yard TD catch in a 28-point second quarter.
“I’m impressed with how he’s continued to grow,” Meester said. “On the first drive, he dropped one in the end zone. But everyone encouraged him and told him we’re going to come back to you.”
The Mustangs also scored on special teams in the second quarter. Senior Caysen Curran blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the end zone.
“We talked earlier in the week, we felt like we were going to need a score from defense or special teams,” Meester said. “That changes the game, quickly.”
Mount Vernon closed the first half running the 2-minute offense, going 60 yards in four plays — including a big 50-yard pass from Haverback to senior Toby Neal — and scored on a 3-yard TD pass to junior running back Jakob Yock.
It was 35-3 at halftime. The Mustangs got the continuous clock rolling after a final touchdown in the fourth quarter. Yock got his second TD on a 6-yard run.
It was a statement win.
The Mustangs finished tied with Central DeWitt and Assumption at 3-2 in the district, but earned district runner-up and the second playoff spot with the 17-point tie breaker, which is based on margin of victory.
“We knew we had to win, and win by more than two scores, so we kept hammering away,” Meester said.
The IHSAA didn’t do Mount Vernon any favors, however, matching them up in the first round with No. 1 Clear Lake (9-0). A 163-mile drive.
“We’re going to embrace it,” Meester said. “Our goal is to win the whole thing, and to do that, you’ve got to beat the best.
“We wanted a chance. Once you get in, anything can happen.”
Last season the Mustangs had to travel even further, to Algona, and won that.