Humboldt holds off Mount Vernon for 28-25 win in Class 3A state football semifinal

CEDAR FALLS – Mount Vernon started strong and rallied late.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to overcome miscues and Humboldt’s performance between those stretches.

Coen Matson passed for three touchdowns and the defense forced four turnovers, including a fumble recovery by Syler Brown in the final two minutes, to seal No. 3 Humboldt’s 28-25 victory over No. 4 Mount Vernon in the Class 3A state football semifinal Saturday night at the UNI-Dome.

“We talked to them afterward about how proud we are of them,” Mustangs Coach Brad Meester said. “There are a lot of situations where we could have gone in the dumps and thought it was over. They just keep fighting. That's the type of group this is and we've talked about it all year.”

“It's just one of those things. We just ended up a little short.”

The Mustangs close the season at 10-2 and just the third time in the last two decades with double-digit victories. Mount Vernon reached its second semifinal in three seasons and 15th appearance overall.

“We did all we could as a team,” Mount Vernon senior lineman Kael Riniker said. “It was a great effort. It's great to be here. Obviously, we came short of like our true goal, but there's nothing to be ashamed of.”

The Mustangs remained on the field after Humboldt headed to the locker room. Mount Vernon coaches and players exchanged handshakes and comments. It’s an earlier exit than desired and one they already plan to avoid next year.

“We are going to remember this feeling and we're not going to want to feel it again,” Mount Vernon’s Mikey Ryan said. “We're just going to keep coming, keep working and see what happens.”

Mount Vernon slugged Humboldt in the chin with scores on its first two possessions. The Mustangs managed a 13-play drive that resulted in Bennett Harp’s 32-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

The lead increased to 11-0 on the next offensive series. The Mustangs galloped 67 yards on six plays, capping the drive with a 29-yard scoring strike from Kellen Haverback to Watson Krob in the back of the end zone. Jase Jaspers followed with a successful conversion rush with 1:38 left in the first quarter.

Interestingly, the Mustangs outgained the Wildcats, 324-279, in total offensive yards. Haverback passed for 227 yards and two scores.

Humboldt weathered that early storm and took control in the second quarter.

The Wildcats seemed to pick up the pace on the first of two scoring drives. They started to click with quick pass plays and gains of 23, 13 and 20 during the first of the two scoring series. The first covered 82 yards on 11 plays, ending with a 7-yard TD run by Cash McIntire.

Humboldt added a 7-yard TD pass from Coen Matson to Keegan Groat for a 14-11 lead with 6:59 left before halftime.

“They did a nice job,” Meester said. “They were able to start moving the ball there and then obviously we couldn't for that little bit. Momentum in this game switches fast. It doesn't take long.

“They're a really good well-coached team. They do a great job with adjustments and they're just solid. They don't make many mistakes.”

Matson and Groat connected on a 4-yard TD, making it 21-11 in the third. Matson passed for 208 yards and hit Valley Davis for a 23-yard touchdown pass for the decisive score with 3:44 to go.

Matson delivered when the Wildcats needed it most. He showed flashes of that against a tough schedule as a junior. He has done it all season.

“I think it’s a testament to his trust and faith in his teammates,” Humboldt Coach Derrick Elman said. “He has guys that he knows when he puts the ball out there, they will find a way to catch it.”

The Mustangs continued to fight. They posted two TDs in the final quarter. Cooper Hird’s 3-yard TD pulled Mount Vernon within three.

After the Davis TD and the game looking settled, Mount Vernon delayed the celebration with a 21-yard TD pass from Haverback that was set up by a 22 Ryan reception. Mustangs were back within a field goal with 2:57 remaining.

“Coach puts us in a great position to make those plays,” said Ryan, who finished with a game-high eight catches for 83 yards. “Kellen through great balls. I was just lucky enough to catch it.”

Mount Vernon’s defense gave the offense one last chance, getting three straight stops. Senior Ethan Wood contributed to all three tackles, including a sack of Matson for a 9-yard loss. The Wildcats were forced to punt the ball back after three plays.

We played to the final whistle,” Wood said. “We left it all out there and we didn't come on top, but we played hard and we gave it our all.”

Mistakes hampered the Mustangs throughout the game. Humboldt grabbed two crucial interceptions deep in its own territory in the first half, including one in the end zone in the final:30 before the half. The Wildcats pounced on two fumbles in the second half, popping the ball out on Mount Vernon’s last possession. Isaiah Busick blindsided Haverback and Syler Brown pounced on it to secure the Wildcats’ win.

“We just have to limit the mistakes,” Meester said. “We talk about it all the time. We talk about it before we came out here. Games like this come down to three or four plays. Big games come down to three or four plays and unfortunately, some of those didn't go our way today but that's just kind of part of it, I guess.”

Humboldt advances to its first title game since winning the 3A championship in 2006. The Wildcats (11-1) face No. 1 Dubuque Wahlert (12-0). The Golden Eagles defeated Sergeant Bluff-Luton, 17-16, in the other semifinal.

HUMBOLDT 28

MOUNT VERNON 25

AT UNI-DOME

MV HUM

First Downs 19 15

Rushes-yards 32-97 28-71

Passing yards 227 208

Comp-att-int 22-30-2 16-27-0

Total yards 324 279

Fumbles-lost 3-2 0-0

Punts-avg. 2-42.0 5-35.6

Penalties-yards 6-45 3-30

Mount Vernon 11 0 0 14 -- 25

Humboldt 0 14 7 7 -- 28

MV – FG Bennett Harp 32

MV – Watson Krob 29 pass from Kellen Haverback (Jase Jaspers rush)

HUM – Cash McIntire 7 run (Karson Rubel kick)

HUM – Keegan Groat 7 pass from Coen Matson (Rubel kick)

HUM – Groat 4 pass from Matson (Rubel kick)

MV – Cooper Hird 3 run (Harp kick)

HUM – Valley Davis 23 pass from Matson (Rubel kick)

MV – Mikey Ryan 21 pass from Haverback (Harp kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Mount Vernon: Hird 21-69, Haverback 8-27, Jaspers 2-2, Team 1-(minus 1). Humboldt: McIntire 8-35, Jaxson Kirchhoff 2-30, Matson 14-12, Team 4-(minus 6).

PASSING – Mount Vernon: Haverback 22-30-2-227. Humboldt: Matson 16-27-0-208.

RECEIVING – Mount Vernon: Ryan 8-83, Krob 4-69, Cole Thurn 4-29, Jaspers 3-32, Hird 3-14. Humboldt: Groat 7-83, Chase Flaherty 5-42, Davis 2-61, Mason Van Pelt 2-22.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com