On Friday, Sept. 27, Mt. Vernon defeated Lamar 42-32 at Thomas O’Sullivan Stadium. The Tigers lost to the Cassville Wildcats on Friday, Sept. 20, while the Mountaineers won their fourth game of the season. It was the Mountaineers’ first win over the Tigers in 15 years.
The Mountaineers scored first on Braden Dodson’s three-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter after an 81-yard offensive drive. The score was 7-0 after Landon Popa’s PAT. Cooper Haun scored a 38-yard touchdown for the Tigers to reply. PAT attempts failed, making the score 7-6.
Haun’s three-yard run with eight seconds left in the first quarter gave Lamar another touchdown. The quarter ended 12-7 when a two-point convert was blocked.
A six-yard score by Braden Dodson gave Mt. Vernon the lead early in the second quarter. Juliun Hernandez scored on a two-point conversion throw from Gavin Johnston to tie it 15-12.
After receiving the ball from the Mountaineers, Trey Pittsenbarger returned it 76 yards for Lamar’s third touchdown of the night. Lamar’s two-point convert was rejected by the Mountaineers, making it 18-15, Tigers ahead.
Mountaineers went back on offensive, but Pittsenbarger intercepted to give Tigers possession. Mt Vernon took the ball back after forcing the Tigers to punt late in the half.
After Johnston completed a 26-yard pass to Jarrett Zerby, Dodson ran for one yard to score the Mountaineers’ third touchdown. At halftime, Lamar rejected a two-point convert, making the score 21-18.
Mountaineers took the ball in the second half and got going. From their 11-yard line owing to a penalty, Mt. Vernon moved forward when Johnston passed to Coy Felton for 41 yards to the Tigers’ 49-yard line.
The Tigers’ defense stalled Mt. Vernon’s offense, forcing a fourth-and-nine at the 39-yard line. The Mountaineers broke through when Johnston passed to Jarret Zerby for 29 yards to put them on the 10-yard line. Dodson scored to finish the drive. Popa made a PAT to make it 28-18.
Lamar scored again when Haun ran 53 yards midway through the first, but the PAT failed, leaving the score 28-24.
After Johnson’s 59-yard touchdown pass to Grayson Gann, Popa kicked a PAT to make it 35-24. The Tigers started their own drive, but the Mountaineers forced a turnover on downs late in the quarter.
Johnston’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Hudson Gaddy gave Mt. Vernon another score with seconds left in the third quarter. Popa made a PAT to make it 42-24.
Alex Wilkerson’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Eli Ngugi midway through the fourth quarter was the Tigers’ final score. Lamar added a two-point conversion when Toby Ansley went by the Mountaineers’ defense to make it 42-32.
Mt. Vernon won the game after the Mountaineers advanced to the Tigers’ seven-yard line on their final offensive possession with two minutes left.
Mountaineers head coach Tom Cox called the win historic.
He stated, “We have not beaten Lamar since 2009,” despite not playing them during that time. We played these seniors as freshmen 1,091 days ago and were waiting for this day.”
Cox said the Mountaineers won due to “excellent teamwork.”
He said, “The guys were so unselfish (in their playing).” For instance, wide receivers ran their routes at peak speed, knowing they would not receive the ball, to create opportunities for others, as we did frequently.
I was really impressed of our linemen blocking, working together, and chatting on the line of scrimmage. We persisted. We demonstrated strong grit and mental toughness.
Mt. Vernon will play the Cassville Wildcats at Mountaineer Stadium on Friday, Oct. 4, while Lamar will host the Nevada Tigers.