Mount Vernon runs roughshod over Carroll for spot in Class 3A state football quarterfinals

MOUNT VERNON – Kellen Haverback is a versatile asset for Mount Vernon.

He displayed it with his arm, legs and even his foot.

The junior quarterback passed for a touchdown, ran for three more and his brilliant “coffin corner” punt at the 1-yard line led to a fumble and eventually his final rushing score.

“He has done an unbelievable job,” Mount Vernon Coach Brad Meester said. “Obviously, just his progress throughout the year has been exceptional, and he's really gotten to a point now where he leads this offense.”

Haverback had plenty of help, including a dominant defensive performance and a workmanlike effort from running back Cooper Hird in the fourth-ranked Mustangs 42-6 thrashing of Carroll Friday night in the first round of the Class 3A football playoffs at Mount Vernon. The Mustangs (9-1) will play at No. 6 Algona (9-1) in the quarterfinals.

“Everything starts for your teammates,” said Haverback, who completed 8 of 13 passes for 195 yards and rushed for 22 more. “We had some great catches tonight. Receivers made plays and then the line. All night we could run the ball. they loaded the box, it didn't matter. We were running the ball.

“I think just trusting your guys. They're going to be there for you so you can be there for them.”

Mount Vernon snagged an early lead, capitalizing on good field position. The Mustangs drove 53 yards on seven plays, ending on a Haverback 2-yard TD run for a 6-0 lead with 35 seconds left in the first quarter.

As the defense continued to force punts and even a fumble, the offense scored on two of their next three possessions for a 21-0 halftime lead. Cooper Hird capped a 92-yard drive with a 1-yard TD run in the second quarter.

Haverback, who hit Mikey Ryan for a 35-yard pass on the first scoring drive, connected with Ryan on a 47-yard scoring strike with 45 seconds left before half.

Ryan hauled in four catches for 108 yards. Jase Jaspers added 68 yards on three receptions.

“They're going to pick you up,” Haverback said. “Let's say you make a mistake or miss a throw they'll make you look good and they'll make plays, and that's kind of what you need with receivers. And I think all our guys could do that.”

The Mustangs pulled away in the third. Haverback scored on an 18-yard run on the first possession of the second half, making it 27-0.

The series Mount Vernon stalled at Carroll’s 39. Haverback punted drilling a bouncer that went out of bounds between the 1 and the left pylon. Two plays later, the Mustangs forced and recovered its second fumble of the game. On his second try, Haverback reaped the rewards of pinning Carroll against its goal line with a 1-yard TD run. Jaspers conversion run made it 35-0 and enacted a running clock right before the fourth.

“I think that was a lot of fun,” Haverback said. “It was really cool.”

Hird was a workhorse for the Mustangs. He pound the ball against the Tigers, amassing 126 yards on 26 carries. He scored twice, adding a 9-yard scoring run with 2:29 left to play.

“Those 100 yards weren't easy,” Haverback said of Hird. “A lot of them were hard after the contact runs, and that just who he is. He does it every day in practice and that's why he can do it here.”

Mount Vernon’s defense stymied Carroll (6-4) the entire game. The Mustangs tenacious front controlled the line of scrimmage, holding the Tigers to 147 total offensive yards. A chunk of that came in the final minutes when Taidyn Peterson broke a 62-yard TD run against Mustangs reserves.

“We focus on being quick off the ball on our defensive line,” Mount Vernon’s Ethan Wood said. “Quick, stay low and dominate up front.

“We have seven guys who are dogs up front. We have more who are really good behind us. It was 7-on-5 most of the time so you just can’t stop that.”

The Mustangs have reached the state quarterfinals for the third straight year. They will hit the road to Algona with a trip to the semifinals and UNI-Dome on the line.

“We celebrate tonight and flush it in the morning,” Wood said. “We’ve got film in the morning and then start focusing on playing against ourselves, getting better every day. Then, we’ll be good.”

MOUNT VERNON 42

CARROLL 6

AT MOUNT VERNON

CAR MV

First Downs 7 13

Rushes-yards 30-107 35-164

Passing yards 40 195

Comp-att-int 6-9-0 8-13-0

Total yards 147 359

Fumbles-lost 2-2 0-0

Punts-avg. 5-28.8 3-33.7

Penalties-yards 5-45 4-40

Carroll 0 0 0 6 -- 6

Mount Vernon 6 15 14 7 -- 42

MV – Kellen Haverback 2 run (rush failed)

MV– Cooper Hird 2 run (Jase Jaspers rush)

MV – Mikey Ryan 47 pass from Haverback (Bennett Harp kick)

MV – Haverback 18 run (pass failed)

MV – Haverback 1 run (Jaspers rush)

MV – Hird 9 run (Harp kick)

CARR – Taidyn Peterson 62 run (kick failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Carroll: Peterson 16-115, Carter Essick 11-0, Team 1-(minus 1), Reece Ziegmann 2-(minus 7). Mount Vernon: Hird 26-126, Haverback 5-22, Jaspers 2-17, Kael Riniker 1-0, Team 1-(minus 1).

PASSING – Carroll: Essick 6-9-0-40. Mount Vernon: Haverback 8-13-0-195.

RECEIVING – Carroll: Ziegmann 2-24, Maddox White 3-10, Kieran Polking 1-6. Mount Vernon: Ryan 4-108, Jaspers 3-68, Cole Thurn 1-19.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com