FORTVILLE — Last week’s postgame celebration was relatively subdued compared to a year ago.
After top-ranked Mt. Vernon claimed its second straight Class 4A sectional championship Friday night, the unbeaten Marauders huddled together for photos and, in customary fashion, hoisted the trophy in triumph.
But, that was the extent of it, and for good reason.
In 2019, the Marauders (12-0) finally broke through. They bested one of their top rivals in Pendleton Heights and won the program’s first sectional title since 2012.
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This time around, however, victory was the expectation at New Castle, 49-20, and it hardly represented the team’s end goal.
Not this year.
"We know what we can do. We know how far we can go, and we know it’s not going to be easy, but we’re excited for the road ahead," Mt. Vernon quarterback Gehrig Slunaker remarked on the team’s postseason ambition. "We just need to be ourselves."
So, who are the Marauders?
Statistically, they’re the 11th most proficient offense in the state at 43.17 points per game. They’ve gone 12 consecutive games without a loss, winning by an average margin of 31.42, to set a single-season school record for victories.
They’re also one more win away from matching last year’s playoff run, which ended with the program’s first regional championship and a final four appearance.
The only difference from 2019 to now is they’ve been here before, and it’s exactly where they intended to be with No. 4 Roncalli (10-1) up next in a regional rematch tonight at 7 p.m.
Last November, the up-and-coming Marauders upset the Rebels, 25-17, at home to reach the semistate title game as the unranked underdog.
In a way, regardless of rankings, they have retained the same role.
Still without a semistate title, and specifically a state championship compared to Roncalli’s nine overall and four in 4A since 2002, the Marauders know they have more left to prove.
"It’s hard to win football games at any level, so we’re really happy," Slunaker said following the sectional title game. "But, it’s a lot of hard work every day, and it’s taken us however long this season to get here, and now we’re here."
Mt. Vernon’s preparations for the first of the final three postseason hurdles began less than 24 hours after seizing the team’s sixth sectional title with a morning film session of Roncalli on Saturday.
Tonight, familiarity will be a given against Roncalli, the winners of nine straight games heading into Fortville.
"Tough deal. They’re loaded. They’re really good. They’ve been averaging about 50 points a game the last four weeks and have been rolling everybody," Mt. Vernon head coach Mike Kirschner said. "They have a great running back and a quarterback that’s really good. A lot of the same kids we played against last year are back, just like we are."
Roncall’s offense goes through junior quarterback Aiden Leffler, who has passed for 1,343 yards, 17 touchdowns while rushing for 528 yards and 15 touchdowns this season.
The Rebels’ running game is powered by all-state rusher Baron Huebler, a senior, who has amassed 1,711 yards on 227 carries for 25 touchdowns. Huebler is averaging 155.5 yards per game.
Huebler will be a test for the Marauders’ defense, which ranks 26th in the state with 11.75 points surrendered per game.
In 12 contests, however, the Marauders’ defense has been active with 748 total tackles collectively and 111 tackles for a loss. The unit has recorded 50.5 sacks, led by Mehki Richmond’s 10.5.
Junior two-way starter Keagan La Belle has nine sacks and a team-leading 94 total tackles. Sophomore George Burhenn has five of the team’s 14 interceptions.
On offense, La Belle has rushed for 885 yards and 20 touchdowns, and if fatigue becomes a factor, fellow all-state standout and two-way starter, Rylan Cole gives Mt. Vernon a versatile 1-2 punch in the backfield.
Cole, an Indiana State recruit, has 672 yards rushing with 13 touchdowns. Slunaker is just as capable between the tackles with 251 yards and seven touchdowns.
As a passer, Slunaker has produced 1,655 yards on 122 completions for 21 touchdowns with 6-foot-6, senior tight end Tanner Koziol, a Ball State commit, maximizing his 30 receptions for 12 touchdowns.
"We work hard every day. In the second half (against New Castle), I think we showed it and started to click a little bit," Slunaker noted on the Marauders’ four-touchdown second half last Friday. "This offense is starting to jell and we’re starting to become what we know we can become."
A repeat regional championship is the immediate objective for Mt. Vernon, and for the first time since Oct. 9, the Marauders won’t have to travel to seek out a victory.
Through the past four weeks, Mt. Vernon has been on the road, claiming the outright Hoosier Heritage Conference title at Yorktown on Oct. 16 and the sectional last week in neighboring Henry County.
"Fortunately, we finally get to have a home game. We haven’t been home in forever. That’ll actually be fun to play one at our place," Kirschner said.
Mt. Vernon hasn’t lost at home since Sept. 20, 2019, against HHC foe Delta, 27-10. Following the loss, the Marauders have successfully defended their home turf in eight straight games.
"We haven’t had a home game in four weeks or something. We’re going to have the home crowd, and it’s going to feel really nice," La Belle said.
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CLASS 4A REGIONAL 11 CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 4 Indianapolis Roncalli (10-1) at No. 1 Mt. Vernon (12-0)
GAME TIME: 7 p.m., at Mt. Vernon.
COACHES: John Rodenberg, 10-1 in 1st year at Roncalli, 184-133 in 27th year overall. Mike Kirschner, 30-7 in 3rd year at Mt. Vernon, 139-69 in 18th year overall.
LAST OUTING: Roncalli defeated Lebanon, 42-7. Mt. Vernon defeated New Castle, 49-20.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Roncalli 56-53. Mt. Vernon 51-71.
SERIES LAST 35 YEARS: Roncalli, 4-1
LAST MEETING: Mount Vernon, 25-17, Nov. 15, 2019, regional.
* Credit: John Harrell’s Indiana H.S. Football
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