Monett Cubs upset Mt’neers in regular season finale

In an upset effort, the Monett Cubs football squad downed the Mt. Vernon Mt’neers at Burl Fowler Stadium on Friday, Oct. 25, the final game of the regular season. The game, in which both teams played with a lot of grit and determination, saw the score tied twice in the fourth quarter. In the end, it was one touchdown that made the difference.
The Mt’neers drew first blood when Hunter Conway made an eight-yard touchdown run near the end of the first quarter. Landon Popa followed up with a successful PAT to make the score 7-0 at the end of the quarter. The team scored again near the beginning of second quarter when Gavin Johnston completed a six-yard touchdown pass to Grayson Gann. Popa again followed up with a successful PAT, extending the team’s lead to 14-0.
Monett began to close the gap a few minutes later. They got on the board with their first touchdown when Dylan Washick completed an 11-yard pass to Carson Nestleroad, who took the ball to the Mt’neers five-yard line but then leapt into the end zone. The Cubs then followed up with a two-point conversion when Washick completed a pass to Dylan Brandt, making the score 14-8 about midway through the quarter.
The Mt’neers responded on their next drive when Johnston completed a 41-yard pass to Hunter Dawson, who took the ball to the Cubs’ six-yard line. Three plays later, Hunter Conway made a one-yard touchdown run into the end zone. The Mt’neers opted to make a two-point conversion, which was successful when Johnston completed a pass to Jarrett Zerby, bringing the score to 22-8.
Determined to even the score, Washick completed a 49-yard touchdown pass to Brandt, who ran the ball into the end zone. The Cubs attempted to follow up with a two-point conversion, but it was blocked by the Mt’neers, making the score 22-14 with three minutes left in the half.
The Mt’neers then went on offense, but August Black intercepted the ball and ran it to the Mt’neers’ nine-yard line, giving possession back to the Cubs; Collin Umfleet then ran the ball into the end zone for a touchdown. The Cubs attempt at a two-point conversion failed, however, and the Mt’neers held on to a narrow lead with a score of 22-20.
The Cubs took the lead in the final seconds of the half when Umfleet made a four-yard touchdown run into the end zone. The team again attempted a two-point conversion, only to have it blocked by the Mt’neers, making the score 26-22 going into halftime.

Second half, back-and-forth battle continues
The third quarter began with the Cubs on offense, but early on, Dawson recovered a fumble at Monett’s 28-yard line to give possession back to Mt. Vernon. Back on offense, the Mt’neers pulled ahead when Johnston completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Coy Felton. Popa followed up with a PAT to make the score 29-26.
The Cubs took back the lead when Washick completed a 33-yard pass to Brandt to put the ball on the Mt’neers five-yard line; Umfleet then ran the ball into the end zone for a touchdown. An attempt at a two-point conversion was unsuccessful, making the score 32-29.
Mt. Vernon’s next offensive drive ended with Popa making a field goal near the start of the fourth quarter on a fourth-and-seven to tie the score at 32.
The Cubs went back on offense and took back the lead when Umfleet made a four-yard touchdown run. Washick then completed a pass to Brandt for a two-point conversion.
Monett scored again when Black intercepted the ball from the Mt’neers and made a 57-yard pick-six run into the end zone. Washick then completed a pass to Brandt for a two-point conversion, to make the score 48-32.
The Mt’neers began to claw back when Johnston made a 12-yard touchdown pass to Conway. Johnston then completed a two-yard conversion pass to Dawson, making the score 48-40.
The Cubs went back on offense, but the Mt’neers forced them to punt on downs. As Monett attempted to do so, Dawson blocked the punt to put the ball on the Cubs 17-yard line. Conway then made a touchdown run into the end zone. Johnston made a two-point conversion pass to Dawson to even the score, 48.

Tied again, in final moments
The Cubs went back on offense, but the Mt’neers forced a turnover on downs, and back in possession, they advanced to the Cubs’ 32-yard line. Victory seemed to be in their grasp, but then Camden Towles recovered a fumble from the Mt’neers to give possession back to Monett. The Cubs then took the ball back to the Mt’neers 12-yard line, from which Washick completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Soriano in the final seconds of the game. Washick then completed a pass to Umfleet to make a two-point conversion, and the game ended a victory for the Cubs, 56-48.

Coach reactions
Ben Mauk, the Monett Cubs head coach, attributed his team’s victory to the senior players.
“Our seniors have had three different head coaches in their four years of time here,” he said, “and they never threw in the towel. They’ve been very good leaders all year long, and so for them to get this win, it means a lot for me to be able to share this with them.”
Mauk also said the victory would bode good things for the team in the future.
“I’m just proud for our kids, excited for our kids, and I think this is something that we can … (take) a little momentum (from) and build off of as we go forward as a football program.”
Tom Cox, head coach for the Mt’neers, said he was very unhappy with  what happened during the game, though he also praised his team’s tenacity for fighting to the end.
“I am extremely disappointed in the outcome of this game, regardless of how many guys were out with injuries or playing banged up,” he said. “For the third week in a row, we failed to handle a kickoff properly. We also made some poor decisions that proved to be costly, and we didn’t perform well defensively. With all of that being said, it comes down to the fact that I did not have our team prepared well enough to win this football game. I was, however, very proud of how our young men never gave up and battled back from two scores down late in the fourth quarter to tie the score.”

Mt’neer Dodson out with injury
Braden Dodson, one of the Mt’neers standout players, did not play in the game against Monett. Cox declined to speak as to why Dodson wasn’t in the game but did acknowledge that his absence made a difference.
“Braden is one of our main drivers on offense, defense and special teams,” Cox said, “and anytime he is not in the game it hurts. He has been starting since his freshman year and this is only the second game he has ever missed, which is, in itself, amazing since he gets pounded every week on both sides of the ball. We hope to have him back for this week’s game with Buffalo.”
Also, during the game, another standout player, Landon Popa, the Mt’neers’ kicker, was injured in the last minutes of the game and taken off the field by stretcher. Information on his condition was not immediately available as of press time, and Cox declined to comment, stating he had not spoken with Popa’s parents as to what he was allowed to say or not say.

Friday matchup
This week, the Mt’neers will return to Mt’neer Stadium, where they will host the Buffalo Bison in the district quarterfinals, while Monett will travel to Bolivar to face the Liberators.