Mount Vernon had 20 players make first- or second-team All-District, or honorable mention.
Not too bad for a team that finished 6-4 overall, 3-2 in District 3.
“It was good to get a lot of recognition in such a tough district,” Mount Vernon coach Brad Meester said.
Senior quarterback Kellen Haverback was voted the Offensive MVP of 3A District 3. The Drake signee finished with 2,394 passing yards and 23 touchdowns, plus 242 rushing yards and 7 TDs.
“It was a close vote,” Meester said. “I was glad Kellen was able to get it, not just for his stats, but the type of leader he was.”
Haverback took on more rushing duties later in the season when the Mustangs were in must-win mode.
“He’s just a tremendous athlete,” Meester said. “You can see it in basketball. He wants the ball in his hands.”
Meester said that senior linebacker Jaxon Anderson just missed out on being voted the Defensive MVP of 3AD3. Anderson led the Mustangs with 79.5 total tackles, including 61 solo stops and 27.5 tackles for loss, the most in 3A, and 12 sacks.
“He was an incredible force for us,” Meester said. “He took over the defense and was constantly in the backfield. He also played O-line and kicked for us.”
Haverback (offensive utility) and Anderson (linebacker) were both Class 3A All-State first-team picks by the Iowa Football Coaches Association. Senior Mikey Ryan was also a first-team all-state pick at defensive back. Ryan had 43.5 total tackles, 29 solo stops and 1.5 tackles for loss. Ryan also had 61 receptions for 680 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Three all-state players is pretty good, but Meester wanted more.
“We had a bunch of other guys that could’ve been up there, but when you lose in the first round of the playoffs, it is tough,” Meester said. “You’ve got some good teams that went to the Dome. And it was a good class this year. There were so many deserving players.”
Ryan also earned a first-team nod in the District. Other first-team defensive picks included senior DL LJ Korte, junior LB Andrew Dix, and senior UT Will Goodlove.
Joining Haverback on the first-team district offense were junior RB Jakob Yock, sophomore WR Holden Hlavacek and senior OL Eli Plotz.
The second-team district picks included junior WR Tommy Rhomberg, junior WR Maddox Curran, junior OL Alex Briesemeister, senior OL Brady Weaver, freshman DL Beckett Curran, senior LB Caleb Keegan, senior LB Cayson Curran, and junior DB Seth Rushford.
Earning honorable mention were senior OL Brogan Meyer, senior DB Landon Wilson and senior return specialist Toby Neal.
Meester was happy to see seven underclassmen honored.
“It was good to see some younger guys in there, too,” Meester said. “That will help next year.”
Senior Jase Jaspers, who was hurt early in the season, earned the District 3 “Golden Award.”