One More Game: Marauders aim to end football journey as state champions

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Mt. Vernon head coach Vince Lidy talks to his team after a practice leading up to the 4A state championship game on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

FORTVILLE — From the first day of the football season, Mt. Vernon senior quarterback Gehrig Slunaker described the Class 4A Marauders’ potential 15-week road ahead as a journey.

After every win — 13 in a row since Aug. 27 to be exact — Slunaker echoed that single word.

Journey.

Regardless of the outcome, each victory this season was a stepping stone for the Marauders whether by running clock, from behind or a literal lights-out, first-half performance like the one this past October in Shelbyville — a game called at halftime due to stadium lighting issues.

The program’s second straight outright Hoosier Heritage Conference title run, third consecutive sectional, second regional championship in three years and first-ever semistate title were all just a part of the journey.

Today, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the fourth-ranked Marauders (13-1) will face unranked Northridge (10-4) at 3:30 p.m. to decide not only the 4A state title but also how their road ends.

“This is the ultimate journey. Summer workouts, when it starts, this is highest thing you work towards, and we did. We’re that close. When you come that close, you have to finish the job and make it happen,” Slunaker said. “We have to finish the job. We have one more to go to complete the ultimate journey.”

One more win and the 2021 Marauders will become the first football team in school history to win a state championship, marking the school’s potential third team title overall. While the football program’s senior class has already cemented its legacy by becoming the most-winningest group all-time at 43-9, one more goal remains.

And, for nearly a dozen rostered players, it’s been the aim since many first strapped on helmets as first-graders.

Growing up in the Fortville area, Mt. Vernon seniors Keagan La Belle, Max Hayse, Cole Herman, Ashden Gentry, Owen Johnson and others played either with or against each other through the Mt. Vernon Youth Football League.

More than a decade later, the time spent building that gridiron foundation has paid dividends.

“We have this bond. I think that’s why we’re such a great team because we have this bond together and we know each other so well. It’s not a new team. We’re been playing together for a long time. I think it allowed us to get to state. We’ve been with Mt. Vernon our entire lives,” said Hayse, a senior linebacker.

“In middle school we only lost one game in two years. Even before that, if you count all-stars in fourth, fifth and sixth grades; we didn’t lose a game. Not against Greenfield, New Pal, any of them, and our first game that we lost was our last game, eighth-grade year against Beech Grove.”

Their culture of winning spilled over as they entered high school, leading to a semistate appearance as sophomores against eventual state champion Evansville Memorial in 2019, followed by two years of HHC dominance and finally where they envisioned they could be in 2021.

“It allowed us to believe. Keagan and I were talking about this a few years ago. We were waiting for our opportunity as seniors. We knew our senior year, we could go out and win this thing,” Hayse said. “We weren’t expecting that our sophomore year, so it was something that made us believe, we can win this thing. It really opened our eyes that we could get back to Evansville.”

Belief fueled the seniors’ work ethic and led to some postseason revenge this state tournament, as the Marauders avenged their 2020 regional loss against defending state champion No. 1 Roncalli, 27-21, at home this month and a week later on Enlow Field against No. 6 Evansville Memorial, 42-28, at semistate.

“We’re grateful for sure to have had the opportunity to have all stayed together. Every one has stuck with it, and we’re happy with how we’ve come up the past few years,” said Gentry, a senior wide receiver. “We were expecting it last year, and we came up short against Roncalli, but this year, we really wanted it. I wanted it. Keagan wanted it. Cole, everybody wanted it.”

Even through the new experience of Thanksgiving preparation week, the Marauders are fixated on the journey despite the distractions. A team meeting at Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the Indianapolis Colts, on Monday and a practice session there on Wednesday offered the Marauders a once-in-a-lifetime thrill. A pep session on Dellen Field at Hancock Health Stadium was rewarding, but it’s not the enough to complete the journey.

“It’s probably going to be talked about for quite awhile, honestly, if we win state,” Mt. Vernon senior linebacker Luke Hiner said. “If we win state, it will be the first time we’ve ever done it. It’s going to be something incredible.”

It will be historic, and the Marauders have the right mindset and coaches to potentially get the job done.

Mt. Vernon head coach Vince Lidy knows about winning, claiming the 1994-95 5A state title as a player at Castle while playing for his late father and hall of fame coach John Lidy, who led his team to two state championships (3A in 1982). Marauders’ offensive coordinator, Toby Jacobs, was a catalyst for Indianapolis Scecina’s back-to-back 2A runs in 1990 and 1991. The duo nearly teamed as assistant coaches at Hamilton Southeastern in 2005-06 to win another state title at 5A, but they came up short against Warren Central, 55-20.

Now, collectively, everyone has another shot at a ring, if win No. 14 doesn’t prove to be elusive.

“Honestly, I probably didn’t enjoy being at state as much as I should have when I was a player. I didn’t notice the little things, so I’ve told these guys that it’s OK when you run out of that tunnel to look up and see that sea of Marauders and just take it in,” Lidy said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and if you come out on the winning side, it’s unbelievable. Nobody can take this away from you.”

As the state’s No. 1 scoring offense, the Marauders aren’t taking anything lightly. They did that to open the season against Noblesville at home, losing 57-36 on Aug. 20. They’ve learned from their mistake, and it has resulted in 10 wins by IHSAA mercy-rule running clock this season and three deficits toppled along the way, including at regional and semistate.

Big leads mean nothing to the Marauders. Nor does facing adversity. All that matters is the winning.

“We still have the same mindset and we still want to win, but we have Lucas Oil and the state game on the back of our mind because it’s a big deal, but we’re trying not to let that get to us. We’re focused on staying on track,” said Johnson, a senior defensive tackle. “First 10 minutes, I’m probably going to be in awe, but then I’m going to dial in and hopefully the rest of the team does. If we win, which I plan on, then I don’t think I’ll even be able to think straight.”

Northridge, a first-time state qualifier, can cause trouble, which the Marauders are expecting. The Raiders opened the season 4-0 before heading into the sectional tournament at 5-4. Northridge upset No. 2 Leo, 27-26, in overtime to win sectional and later eliminated No. 9 New Prairie at semistate, 20-14.

The Raiders are an unknown to the Marauders, who have had the luxury of facing prior historical opponents to date, but Mt. Vernon isn’t planning to deviate from their current path. Today’s game and hopeful victory isn’t just for the players. It’s for the community and everyone who has contributed along the way.

“All the seniors from last year and two years ago have been texting us and congratulating us on finally getting there,” Johnson said. “We’ve always been aiming this high, and to finally do it is a great accomplishment. I do feel like we’re trying to win it for them, too, because I feel like those seniors really got us where we are and really pushed us and showed us how to be good leaders. They built the team we are now.”

And who are the Marauders?

“We had always heard when we were younger that this was a special group. This doesn’t come around often, so to see us come up through high school and see it coming true is almost like a movie,” Mt. Vernon junior Eli Bridenthal said. “Week 1, I don’t think we really gelled as a team. As we progressed, through conference play, we all started coming together as one. Like the hashtag, ‘Rise as One,” I think we’ve rose to the occasion. We’ve rose as one.”

The journey comes to a conclusion today with one more wall to demolish. One more win to go.

“It’s been a fun journey. We played MYFL when we were little. I was playing Ashden in the championship game at Mt. Vernon Stadium back when the field was grass, and I remember breaking 3-for-3 touchdowns on his team. They beat us earlier in the year, but we got them back in the championship game,” La Belle recalled. “It’s all been fun and games, and honestly, it started back then. We pushed each other back then and we push each other now. We’re pushing each other for this one. We want it.”

By the Numbers

1 Mt. Vernon ranks first in the state for points scored per game on average at 48.43.

10 The Marauders average margin of victory is 29.29 through 13 wins this season.

4 Mt. Vernon is ranked fourth in the Associated Press Class 4A Poll and fifth in the IFCA Coaches Poll.

3 The Marauders are aiming for the school’s third team state title overall (in any sport) and first for football.

13 After losing its season opener to Noblesville on Aug. 20, Mt. Vernon has won 13 straight games, including 10 by running clock.

4 The Mt. Vernon defense has posted four shutout victories this season.

14 The Marauders have finished 7-0 in the Hoosier Heritage Conference in both 2020 and 2021 to win the league title outright both seasons.

2 The Marauders have eliminated a pair of top-10 teams en route to state (No. 1 Roncalli, 27-21, at regional and No. 6 Evansville Memorial, 42-28, at semistate).

5 Mt. Vernon head coach Vince Lidy would become the fifth first-year football head coach to win a state title, in history, if the Marauders win today.

6 The margin of victory Northridge used to beat No. 9 New Prairie, 20-14, at semistate to conclude its comeback victory. The Raiders also beat No. 2 Leo, 27-26, in overtime in the sectional title game.

MT. VERNON MARAUDERS

2021 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Coach: Vince Lidy, 13-1 in 1st year at school

DATE OPPONENT RESULT

Aug. 20 Noblesville L, 36-57

Aug. 27 Franklin W, 43-25

Sep. 4 at Greenfield-Central W, 42-21

Sep. 10 at New Palestine W, 49-10

Sep. 17 Delta W, 56-31

Sep. 24 Pendleton Heights W, 43-0

Oct. 1 at New Castle W, 46-0

Oct. 8 at Shelbyville W, 49-0

Oct. 15 Yorktown W, 63-13

Oct. 22 Pendleton Heights W, 63-28 (4A Sectional 21)

Oct. 29 at Greenfield-Central W, 49-34 (4A Sectional 21)

Nov. 5 Connersville W, 70-0 (4A Sectional 21)

Nov. 12 Roncalli W, 27-21 (4A Regional 11)

Nov. 19 at Evansville Memorial W, 42-38 (4A Semistate)

IHSAA Class 4A State Championship

Depth Charts

Northridge (Offense)

Pos.: No., Player Name, Yr.

QB: 24, Tagg Gott, 11

FB: 2, Ridge Howard, 11

TB: 20, Tyler Gordon, 12

Y: 22, Kaid Sainz, 11

X: 11, Jethro Hochstetler, 11

Z: 5, Clint Walker, 12

OT: 54, Wyatt Boals, 10

OT: 68, Evan Kaehr, 12

OG: 52, Julian Caudil, 12

OG: 67, Phil Ankrom, 11

C: 58, Logan Bickel, 11

PK: 40, Dylan Ritchie, 10

Northridge (defense)

Pos.: No., Player Name, Yr.

DE: 54, Wyatt Boals, 10

DE: 59, Max Petersheim, 11

NT: 74, Trent Jensen, 12

OLB: 5, Clint Walker, 12

OLB: 24, Tagg Gott, 11

ILB: 2, Ridge Howard, 12

ILB: 1, Peyton Shook, 12

CB: 8, Tyrese Thomas, 11

CB: 22, Kaid Sainz, 11

S: 4, Matt Rutledge, 12

S: 11, Jetro Hochstetler, 11

P: 24, Tagg Gott, 11

Head Coach: Chad Eppley (10-4 in first year overall)

Mt. Vernon (offense)

Pos.: No., Player Name, Yr.

QB: 4, Gehrig Slunaker, 12

RB: 32, Keagan La Belle, 12

WR: 88, Tre Jones, 10

Y: 81, George Burhenn, 11

WR: 16, Ashden Gentry, 12

WR: 9, Eli Bridenthal, 11

LT: 79, Cole Herman, 12

LG: 77, Kyler Grill, 11

C: 54, Roland Tremble, 10

RG: 53, Ben Roembke, 11

RT: 57, Razhaun Wells, 12

PK: 44, Ethan Yeley 10

Mt. Vernon (defense)

Pos.: No., Player Name, Yr.

CB: 1, Avery Williams, 12

CB: 11, Ren Davis, 11

FS: 9, Eli Bridenthal, 11

SS: 81, George Burhenn, 11

LB: 34, Max Hayse, 12

LB: 32, Keagan La Belle, 12

LB: 89, Luke Hiner, 12

LB: 39, Kellan La Belle, 11

DT: 36, Owen Johnson, 12

NT: 57, Razhaun Wells, 12

T: 55, Colton Plank, 12

P: 90, Dean Helms, 10

Head Coach: Vince Lidy (13-1 in first year overall)