Mt’neers KO Clever, 65-0, in shutout game

The Mt. Vernon Mt’neers won a stunning victory as they defeated the Clever Bluejays in a shutout game on Friday, Oct. 28 at Mt’neer Stadium in the Class 2, District 4 quarterfinals.
The Mt’neers repeatedly pushed past the Bluejays defense to score touchdowns throughout the game while also consistently blocking their offensive drives. The team scored five touchdowns in the first half. Early in the first quarter, Braden Dodson blocked a punt by the Bluejays to put them on offense at Clever’s three-yard line; he then took the ball into the endzone.
The Mt’neers scored again about midway through first quarter when Dodson made a 27-yard run to give the team their second touchdown of the night.
On the Mt’neers next offensive drive, Gavin Johnston gave the team their third touchdown when he made a one-yard plunge into the endzone. The final touchdown of the quarter was scored by Earl Trimble, who capped an offensive drive with a four-yard touchdown run. Malachi Hennum followed up each touchdown with a successful PAT to make the score 28-0 at the end of the quarter.
The Mt’neers continued their scoring surge in second quarter. Dodson made a 26-yard touchdown early in the quarter, and Hennum followed up with a successful PAT, making the score 35-0.
The Mt’neers scored again about midway through the quarter when the Bluejays fumbled the ball in their endzone and Calvin Dawson recovered it for a safety, bringing the score to 37-0. They scored once more before halftime when, near the end of the half, Ashton Cottrell completed a short touchdown pass to Juliun Hernandez. Hennum again followed up with a successful PAT, making the score 44-0 at the end of second quarter.
The Mt’neers gained their next touchdown about midway through third quarter when Calvin Dawson capped off the team’s offensive drive with an eight-yard touchdown run. Shortly afterwards, they scored again when Hunter Conway made a six-yard plunge into the endzone. Conway made another touchdown in fourth quarter when he made a touchdown run over the goal line. Hennum followed up all three touchdowns with successful PATs to make the final score 65-0.
Tom Cox, the Mt’neers head coach, said he was pleased with the victory but, the situation with this game was unique.
“These games are hard to coach,” he said. “We always want our players to do well and reap the rewards of their hard work, but on the other hand, we don't want to run up the score on a program that is in its infancy. Offensively, our starters were only in the game for eight plays. From the very beginning, it seemed like everything that could go wrong for Clever, did; however, we had a lot to do with that. Our defense played with a great deal of emotion and really came off the ball well. The Blue Jays had nine negative yardage plays in the first half. The positives of this game were that we stayed injury free, and all of our players got meaningful reps in a varsity contest.”
Cox also said he was impressed with the Mt’neers individual performances.
“I was proud of our younger guys that moved the ball well on offense and held Clever scoreless on defense,” he said. “We had 10 different players carry the ball, and six of them scored touchdowns.  Braden Dodson had three rushing touchdowns to raise his season total to eighteen, (and) freshman Hunter Conway had a great night rushing for 73 yards on five carries and two touchdowns. He also added a pass reception from Hunter Dawson for 33 yards. Earl Trimble ran for 53 yards on the ground and one touchdown, (while) Ashton Cottrell threw a touchdown pass to Juliun Hernandez. Calvin Dawson and Gavin Johnston each added a rushing touchdown, (while) Ryder Dampf and Lane Konrad each had pass receptions. Malachi Hennum was nine for nine on extra points and he forced Clever to start deep in their own end of the field with seven touchbacks. Our special teams (also) played very well;  Calvin Dawson blocked a punt, and Aiden Morton was credited with a safety on another punt.”
One down point in the game was when a Clever player was injured in second quarter and had to be taken off the field by paramedics and to a hospital. However, Cox said he spoke with Jim Genzler, the Bluejays head coach, and learned that the boy was recovering nicely.
“I spoke with Coach Genzler from Clever on Saturday,” he said, “and was happy to hear the young man who was injured during the game is doing well.”
The Mt’neers will return to Mt’neer Stadium on Friday, Nov. 4, where they will face the Forsyth Panthers. Cox said he expects it will be a great game to watch, and he hopes Mt’neer fans will turn out in droves to cheer on the team.
“We definitely want to be playing our best football at this time of the year,” he said. “We know that is a requirement to continue to play each week. Forsyth comes to town on Friday with an identical record as us and a Mid-Lakes Conference Championship. We scrimmaged them in our jamboree, but that was two months ago, and both teams have improved immensely. It should be a great game! I hope Mountaineer fans will pack the house and be loud and proud! Bleed Green!”