Visiting Mt. Vernon Mt’neers slay Lamar Tigers, 42-32

First victory over powerhouse Lamar in 15 years; look to homecoming contest Friday against Cassville Wildcats
The Mt. Vernon Mt’neers defeated the Lamar Tigers to win their fourth victory of the season at Thomas O’Sullivan Stadium in Lamar on Friday, Sept. 27. The game had some special significance for the Mt. Vernon team as it was the first time the Mt’neers had defeated the Tigers in 15 years.
Mt’neers get first touchdown, lead by end of half
The Mt’neers drew first blood when they scored a touchdown about midway through first quarter when Braden Dodson made a touchdown, capping off their initial 81-yard offensive drive. Landon Popa followed up with a PAT to make the initial score 7-0.
Lamar made a touchdown afterwards, but failed to follow up with a PAT. At the end of the quarter, they scored a second touchdown, which they attempted to follow up with a two-point conversion, but the Mt’neers blocked it, making the score at the end of first quarter 12-7.
The Mt’neers took back the lead near the start of second quarter when Dodson made his second touchdown of the evening. The Mt’neers then followed up with a two-point conversion with Gavin Johnston completing a pass to Juliun Hernandez to make the score 15-12.
The Tigers made their third touchdown almost immediately afterwards, but their attempt at a two-point conversion was again blocked by the Mt’neers, bringing the score to 18-15.
The Mt’neers went back on offense, but the drive was cut short by an interception by the Tigers. However, the Mt’neers forced the Tigers to punt near the end of the quarter, and their offensive drive this time resulted in Dodson making his third touchdown of the night. An attempt at a two-point conversion failed, and the score was 21-18, Mt. Vernon leading, at the end of the half.
Mt’neers keep, extend lead in second half
The Mt’neers retained the lead against the Tigers throughout the second half of the game. After receiving the ball, a penalty forced them onto their own 11-yard line, but Johnston completed a 41-yard pass to Coy Felton to put them on the Tigers’ 49-yard line. At first, the Mt’neers had some trouble breaking through the Tigers’ defense, but on a fourth down with nine yards to go from the Tigers’ 39-yard line, the team, instead of punting the ball, chose to push forward with their offensive drive. It paid off. Johnston completed a 29-yard pass to Jarrett Zerby, allowing the team to advance to the 10-yard line. From there, Dodson plunged into the end zone, and Popa followed up with another PAT to make the score 28-18.
Lamar made their own touchdown about midway through the quarter, but their attempt at a PAT failed. The Mt’neers, however, scored almost immediately afterwards when Johnston completed a 59-yard touchdown pass to Grayson Gann. Popa again followed up with a successful PAT to make the score 35-24.
Near the end of the quarter, the Mt’neers forced the Tigers to turn over on downs and went back on offense. With just seconds remaining in the quarter, Johnston completed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Hudson Gaddy. Popa once more followed up with a successful PAT to make the score 42-24 at the end of the quarter. The Tigers scored one final touchdown in the fourth quarter, which they followed up with a two-point conversion, but the game ended a Mt’neers victory with a score of 42-32.
Victory important milestone for Mt’neers
Tom Cox, the Mt’neers head coach, said the win was important to the team for two reasons.
“We have not beaten Lamar since 2009 and we didn’t get to play them every (year) in all those years, but still, it’s been that long since we’ve beaten them. And for these seniors, we played them when they were freshmen and it’s been 1,091 days since we played them, and we were waiting for this day.”
Cox attributed the victory to “unselfish” teamwork on the part of the Mt’neers and the team’s fortitude.
“The wide receivers (were) running their route, and (they knew that they weren’t) going to get the ball, but (they ran) it to the best of their ability … at top speed to open somebody else up, which is what we did many times. You (also) had these lineman just blocking, working together … on the line of scrimmage, and I just was really, really proud of our guys. We just hung in there. We showed really good grit and just showed, I mean, just toughness, mental toughness.”
Homecoming Friday
The Mt’neers return this Friday to Mt’neer Stadium for their homecoming game, where they will face the Cassville Wildcats.