Mt. Vernon quarterback Mason Meyer threw two touchdown passes and rushed for two more at Yorktown Friday.
Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
By Cameron Baker
For the Daily Reporter
YORKTOWN — After winning four straight, Mt. Vernon suffered its first loss since September, a 28-27 decision to host and Hoosier Heritage Conference foe Yorktown Friday.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game. They’ve had a good year, 5-3 coming into this game, and everybody can beat anybody on Friday night. It comes down to making plays, and they made one more play than we did. So, credit to them for making the plays,” Mt. Vernon coach Vince Lidy said.
Both teams had four touchdowns, but the Tigers were able to block one of Mt. Vernon’s point-after-touchdowns.
A slow start from the Marauders (4-5, 4-2) allowed Yorktown (6-3, 3-3) to take a 7-0 first-quarter lead.
Yorktown quarterback Sam Tokar found Noah Long wide open in the endzone off an 18-yard pass. Another three-and-out from Mt. Vernon allowed punter John Duncan to pin Yorktown at its own 1-yard line, and the defense prevented the Tigers from making any meaningful gains to set their offense up with great field position.
Mason Meyer found the endzone with a 4-yard rushing touchdown directly after he hit Ryker Baer for a huge 35-yard gain.
However, the Tigers were able to reclaim their lead on the next drive when Ephraim Daugherty scored off a 4-yard jet sweep pass halfway through the second quarter. The 12-play drive was just one of five drives that went into double-digit plays as the Marauders struggled to get their opponents off the field.
Mt. Vernon equalized with just 35 seconds left in the first half via a Meyer rushing touchdown.
Coming out of halftime, the Marauders looked to be a different team. Linebacker Jonah Schroder blew past the offensive line to sack Tokar and force the Tigers to punt. Four plays later, Meyer found Baer wide open off a go-route, and the Marauders took their first lead of the game.
“Our first half defensive gameplan wasn’t very good, and credit again to them. They made plays. At halftime we made some adjustments, and we tried to go out there and get stops, and we did. We couldn’t capitalize on good field position,” Lidy said.
Mt. Vernon’s quick third quarter start continued on their next drive when Meyer hit Gavin Joy on a screen pass that he took 71 yards into the endzone for Meyer’s second passing touchdown of the game. But a blocked PAT from Yorktown only saw the Marauders take a six-point lead and allowed the Tigers to reclaim the momentum.
The defensive effort from Yorktown proved to be the deciding factor as Mt. Vernon was unable to stop Kaden Crumes from scoring early in the fourth quarter, and unable to find the winning play it desperately wanted.
“We’re not going to dwell on the loss. The regular season is over. But we have to flip the script, so now everybody is 0-0. On Monday, we just have to go out there and start all over. We have to grow from it as fast we can and flip the script to New Pal,” Lidy said.
The Marauders travel to No. 1 New Palestine for their first-round sectional game next Friday.
–
Yorktown 28, Mt. Vernon 27
Mt. Vernon (4-5, 4-3);0;14;13;0-; 27
Yorktown (6-3, 4-3); 7;7;7;7-; 28
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Y- Noah Long 18 pass from Sam Tokar (PAT good), 5:16
2nd Quarter
MV- Mason Meyer 4 rush (Rylan Vinard kick), 10:59
Y- Ephraim Daugherty 4 rush (PAT good), 6:08
MV- Meyer 1 rush (Vinard kick), 0:35
3rd Quarter
MV- Ryker Baer 16 pass from Meyer (Vinard kick), 9:25
Y- Long 1 rush (PAT good), 4:55
MV- Gavin Joy 71 pass from Meyer (PAT blocked), 4:38
4th Quarter
Y- Kaden Crumes 4 rush (PAT good), 9:46
