For the Daily Reporter
GREENWOOD — For the third Friday night in a row, the Mt. Vernon Marauders took the field in the rain.
This time, Mother Nature seemed to wreak just enough havoc on the Marauders to cause their football season to end earlier than expected, as they fell to the Greenwood Woodmen 14-7 in the Sectional 22 semifinal.
“Too many mistakes,” Marauders coach Mike Kirschner said bluntly afterwards. “We got off to a poor start with field position and things kind of went downhill from there.”
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The Marauders received the opening kickoff and went three and out. The three and out would become a recurring theme for the Marauders, who did so on five of their 10 offensive series.
The Woodmen took over for their first possession and it looked as if the Marauders had prevented a scoring opportunity, but on 4th and 15 quarterback Luke Hommell found receiver Bryce Hoffman, who made a stellar play out-leaping his defender, for a touchdown to open the scoring.
“I’m not sure how anyone would ever give up a touchdown like that on 4th and 15,” Kirschner said. “But we somehow found a way to do it.”
The Marauders looked as if they would head into the half down seven or more points, but with 15 seconds left, sophomore Rylan Cole intercepted the ball and returned it 95 yards for the tying score.
“Our defense played great tonight,” Kirschner said. “We got the great interception return and forced three other fumbles. Our offense just couldn’t get it done tonight.”
The fourth quarter was a frustrating one for the Marauders. Starting quarterback Tyson Harley had to exit in the second quarter with a concussion, so junior Shaun Shipley came in to lead the offense.
Three different times the Marauders were inside the 10-yard line in the fourth quarter. They were stopped each time. Twice they were stuffed on 4th down plays and on the last series a shotgun snap caromed off Shipley and into the arms of a Woodmen defender.
“We had the two-point play dialed up and ready,” Kirschner said. “We were going to go for the win.”
The loss brings Mt. Vernon’s record to 7-4 in Kirschner’s first season as Marauders coach. He sees a bright future ahead for Mt. Vernon, if his players are willing to put in the work.
“Our eighth grade, freshmen, and JV teams had great years,” Kirschner said. “But we got out-muscled on the lines tonight, so if we’re not willing to put in that work in the weight room, then the end results won’t change.”
