Mt. Vernon Mt’neers crush host Hollister Tigers, 56-13

The Mt. Vernon Mt’neers won their sixth victory of the season when they defeated the Hollister Tigers 56-13 at Tiger Stadium on Friday, Oct. 6.
The Mt’neers got on the board early in first quarter when Braden Dodson capped off a 65-yard offensive drive with a six-yard touchdown run. Landon Popa followed up with a successful PAT to make the score 7-0.
About halfway through the quarter, the Mt’neers scored another touchdown when Dodson made a 50-yard touchdown run. Popa again followed up with a successful PAT to make the score 14-0.
The Tigers then went on offense, only to have Jarrett Zerby pick the ball early in the drive, putting the Mt’neers back in business on the Tigers’ 33-yard line. Four plays later, Dodson made a five-yard run into the end zone for the teams’ third touchdown of the night. Popa again followed up with a successful PAT, to make the score 21-0.
The Tigers got onto the board shortly afterward when they scored their first touchdown near the end of the quarter, but their attempt at a two-point conversion was blocked by the Mt’neers. Going back on offense, the Mt’neers scored yet again when Gavin Johnston completed a 57-yard touchdown pass to Ryder Dampf. Popa made yet another successful PAT to make the score 28-6 at the end of the first.
The Mt’neers gained their fifth touchdown of the night when Dodson made a 12-yard touchdown run about midway through the second quarter. Dodson would make another touchdown with about 75 second left on the play clock to cap off a 70-yard offensive drive. Popa followed up each of these touchdowns with successful PATs to make the score 42-6 at the end of the half.
Hunter Conway gave the Mt’neers their seventh touchdown of the evening about midway through third quarter, followed by successful PAT by Popa to make the score 49-6. Later in fourth quarter, Hunter Dawson completed a 84-yard touchdown pass to Grayson Gann, again followed with a successful PAT by Popa. The Tigers scored a touchdown in the final seconds of the game, complete with a PAT, and the game ended a Mt’neer victory with a final score to 56-13.
Mt. Vernon head coach Tom Cox said he felt the Mt’neers performed exceptionally well at the game.
“Hollister has a young team with some very good talent, much like we were two years ago,” he said. “They have excellent team speed, but I thought we did a good job defensively of limiting their explosive plays. The only exception was the one long touchdown run in the first half. Jarrett Zerby had an outstanding diving interception while Calvin Dawson and Braxton Craig each had a fumble recovery. Kade Jenkins caused one of them. Owen Lehman had a quarterback sack and Cody Downing had three tackles for loss while Calvin Dawson, Coy Felton and Lehman each had a tackle for loss.  
Cox also had high praise for the team’s offensive game.
“Offensively, we did a good job of controlling the line of scrimmage,” he said. “Our O-line did really well opening holes for our running backs and our receivers gave great effort blocking downfield. Braden Dodson rushed for 204 yards and five touchdowns and Hunter Conway added another one in the second half. Ryder Dampf had a 62-yard touchdown reception from Gavin Johnston and Grayson Gann had an 84-yard catch and run from Hunter Dawson to complete the scoring. Our quarterbacks completed six of nine passes for 208 yards. Landon Popa was a perfect eight for eight on extra points. Overall, it was a good night. Everyone that was dressed out got in the game. It’s tough to do when you have the turbo clock going the entire second half. We only ran five offensive plays in the final two quarters. However, we scored on two of them. Our young guys gave up a late score, but I was proud of their effort.”
This Friday, the Mt’neers return to Mt’neer Stadium, where they will face the Marshfield Bluejays. Cox said he anticipates they will be tough to beat.
“They are a Class 4 team that also possesses great speed at the quarterback, running back and receiver positions,” he said. “They have the ability to strike quickly. We need to play a full four quarters of mistake-free