Mt’neer football defeats Parkview with big offensive night

Nevada next up to host Mt. Vernon as postseason play approaches
The Mt. Vernon Mt’neers defeated the Parkview Vikings from Springfield on Friday, Oct. 11, at Mt’neer Stadium. It was the first time the Mt’neers had played the Vikings, and it also was the Mt’neers’ last home game of the regular season.
The Mt’neers drew first blood about midway through the first quarter when Gavin Johnston completed a nine-yard touchdown pass to Juliun Hernandez. Landon Popa followed up with a successful PAT to make the score 7-0.
Shortly afterwards, the Mt’neers went on offense again after forcing Parkview to punt on downs. Hernandez capped off the 41-yard drive when he made a 15-yard touchdown run. Popa followed up with another PAT, to make the score 14-0 at the end of the quarter.
The Mt’neers scored again after forcing a turnover on downs near the end of the quarter. Starting from the Mt’neers 35-yard line, Johnston completed a 44-yard pass to Coy Felton to put the team on the Vikings’ 21.
The Mt’neers continued to fight their way down the field, and Hunter Conway capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge at the beginning of the second quarter. Popa again followed up with a successful PAT to make the score 21-0.
The Vikings went back on offense and advanced to the Mt’neers 16-yard line, but the Mt’neers regained possession by forcing a turnover on downs. Running into trouble on the drive, the Mt’neers punted the ball on a fourth down and nine, but the Vikings muffed the punt reception and Hernandez managed to scoop up the ball and run it down the field into the Vikings’ end zone. Unfortunately, the touchdown didn’t count because the ball was dead, however, Hernandez’s play did give the Mt’neers possession of the ball on the Vikings’ 42-yard line.
The Mt’neers made their drive towards the Vikings’ end zone, and with 40 seconds left on the play clock, Braden Dodson capped off the drive when he made a six-yard touchdown run, and Popa once more followed up with a successful PAT.
However, Parkview got on the board in the final seconds of the half when a Viking made a kickoff return and ran down the field to score their first touchdown of the night. The Vikings then went for a two-point conversion, but it was unsuccessful, making the score 28-6 at the end of the half.
Second half more of the same for host Mt’neers
Coming into the second half, Parkview made two more touchdowns near the beginning of third quarter and attempted to follow each one up with a two-point conversion, but their attempts were unsuccessful, making the score 28-18.
The Mt’neers extended their lead when Dodson capped off an offensive drive with a 13-yard touchdown run about midway through the quarter, with Popa making his fifth successful PAT of the night. With 20 seconds remaining at the end of the quarter, Dodson made another touchdown plunge, and Popa once more followed it up with a successful PAT, making the score 42-18.
Following the touchdown, the Vikings started their next offensive drive, but Hunter Dawson intercepted the ball with four seconds remaining in third quarter to put the Mt’neers in possession on the Vikings’ 26-yard line. Two plays later, Johnston completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Dawson, giving the team their seventh touchdown of the evening. Popa then followed up with a successful PAT to make the score 49-18 at the end of the game.
Tom Cox, the Mt’neers head coach, said he was pleased with how the team performed.
“I thought we played really well,” he said, “with the exception of the turnovers; we had an interception and a fumble, but our guys really played well. Other than that, we did a really good job of containing it. (Parkview) had some really fine athletes, (and) I thought they (would be) able to score quickly, and that’s one reason why we felt like we needed to keep scoring as well, because they are so explosive. But it was a really good game. We got a bunch of guys into the game, they got some Friday night experience, which is always a good thing. But as we get down the stretch, you know, we’ve got to have more guys ready that are able to step in if we have injuries.”
Next up for Mt. Vernon team
This week, the Mt’neers travel to Nevada, where they will face the Tigers. Cox said they are a formidable opponent, but he believes the Mt’neers can defeat them.
“Coach (Wes) Beachler does a really good job up there,” he said. “We know what they do. They know we know what they do. And they just do it anyways. So, we’ve just got to be able to have a good week of preparation where everybody has good eye discipline, doesn’t follow false keys and things like that, and just (does their) job. If we do that, and we keep playing hard like we have these past few weeks, we’ll be fine.”