FORTVILLE — In 2022, coming off a Class 4A title the previous season, Mt. Vernon had to replace a large number of talented seniors that helped lead the Marauders to their first football state championship.
While the quantity may not be the same, the quality graduation losses heading into this season are pretty huge, too.
The Marauders will miss their two biggest offensive weapons in multi-talented Eli Bridenthal, who threw and caught TD passes and scored on rushes, receptions and returns. He scored 19 touchdowns overall and threw for five more.
Also gone is tight end George Burhenn, the 2022 Indiana Mr. Football Tight End. He’s playing at Purdue this fall, and is also coming off a state title in the high hurdles in the spring.
“It’s hard to replace some of the players we lost individually, so it’s going to be a collective effort,” Mt. Vernon head coach Vince Lidy said. “In Eli Bridenthal and George Burhenn, the Mr. Football Tight End, you usually don’t have those players. We’re trying to move as many guys around and put them in spots to be successful and make plays.”
Lidy does have a lot of players to choose from to help fill spots. The Marauders have 100 players on the roster and, though Bridenthal and Burhenn led the way, there are others that helped the Marauders to a 6-4 season.
The only losses were to teams in higher classes or ranked No. 1 in their class. After opening with a loss to Class 6A Noblesville and Class 5A Franklin, the Marauders only losses were to Class 4A No. 1 New Palestine, once in the regular season and also in a first-round sectional game.
Senior Tre Jones is the county’s most productive returning receiver. He had 481 yards in receptions last year on 29 catches with four touchdowns.
Junior Joliba Brogan is the top returning back, third on the team last year with 259 rushing yards.
Sophomore Luke Ertel will begin his second season as the team’s starting quarterback. He threw for 1,659 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Returning senior receiver Tyler Etherington, speedy senior receiver Chris Edmonds, junior running back DJ Johnson, who saw some action last year, and sophomore Zaidyn Ramsey Fox are some of the players that will have increased roles this season.
Senior Aidan Lindstrom, a linebacker, was last year’s top tackler with 63. The Marauders have a good number of defensive backs returning in Johnson, junior Gavin Joy, senior Domanic Barnett, and senior Jaden Gibson.
One of the biggest, literally, returnees is senior lineman Roland Trimble.
At 6-3, 295 he’s not only one of the bigger Marauders but also one of the most talented. He was set to have a big season last year but was injured early and only saw action in three games. He’ll probably play on both sides during the season.
Tyler Kempers, Christian Kiptoo, Connor Garrison and wrestling all-stater Devin Kendrex are some others that will give the Marauders strength on both offensive and defensive lines, along with veteran Shawn Taylor.
Lindstrom is expected to lead the linebacking group that will also include Johnathan Pienkowski, Vanden Vail, and Luke Hankley.
“We, potentially, could have some really good depth,” Lidy said. “We have to find right combinations and keep guys fresh.”
Lidy has liked what he’s seen from the Marauders so far. And, if they keep progressing at current pace, they’ll be playing their best ball when it counts the most.
“We finished our summer with a scrimmage at Columbus North, scrimmaged ourselves, then we scrimmaged Perry Meridian,” Lidy said. “In all three scrimmages, we’ve gotten better each time and two of those were against 6A programs.”
The Marauders open the season tonight in Lucas Oil Stadium against Noblesville.
“It’s the last chance (as a senior),” Trimble said. “I want to start at Lucas Oil and end at Lucas Oil (playing for a state championship).”
–
2023 Mt. Vernon Football Schedule
Date;Opponent;Time
Aug. 18;vs. Noblesville (Lucas Oil);8:30 p.m.
Aug. 25;vs. Franklin;7 p.m.
Sept. 1;at Greenfield-Central;7 p.m.
Sept. 8;at New Palestine;7 p.m.
Sept. 15;vs. Delta;7 p.m.
Sept. 22;vs. Pendleton Heights;7 p.m.
Sept. 29;at New Castle;7 p.m.
Oct. 6;at Shelbyville;7 p.m.
Oct. 13;vs. Yorktown;7 p.m.
