Mount Vernon eyes another playoff berth

MOUNT VERNON – In the first year of the Lance Pedersen era at Mount Vernon, the Mustangs reached the Class 2A football playoffs en route to a 6-5 record.

With 12 returning starters, including two quarterbacks, their leading rusher and receiver, and a mountain of a lineman to lead the way, the expectations may be higher for the Mustangs this season.

'Certainly we hope to compete (for a playoff berth), but we know it's a long process,” said Pedersen, who has guided nine of the 11 teams he has coached into the playoffs. The first eight were during his 10-year tenure at Wilton.

Mount Vernon returns three players who started at quarterback last season, although senior Tommy Hook has been shifted to receiver. Hook was sidelined by a concussion in the second game, against Solon, and did not play the rest of the year.

After Hook went down, junior Jack Cochrane and sophomore Drew Adams split time at quarterback. Pedersen said Cochrane is the better runner (365 yards, 5 TDs) and Adams the better passer (65.3 percent, 668 yards, 6 TDs).

'They are both going to contribute. Our goal is to have one quarterback, but the backup will not be waiting for the No. 1 guy to go down,” Pedersen said. 'My philosophy is to have our best players on the field and those guys will be a part of that somewhere.”

Other top returnees at the skill positions are senior running back Mickey Hines (645 yards) and senior tight end Connor Hermann (41 receptions, 567 yards, 8 TDs). Hines also is a dangerous kick returner, taking back two kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns last season.

'(Hines) is a key guy,” Pedersen said. 'He has great ability running the ball and he's a great return man.”

And then there is junior Tristan Wirfs, a 6-foot-5, 265-pounder who works on both sides of the line and holds scholarship offers from Iowa and Iowa State. Wirfs, who won the Class 2A discus toss at last spring's state meet, is one of six returning linemen with starting experience.

'We think we have a pretty salty 11 we can put on the field as starters,” Pedersen said. 'We're working hard to develop those 12 through 16 players. Having those players is just as important as the starters. You need that depth to compete.”

Toward that end, Pedersen said the Mustangs have increased the size of their squad by 15 players from a year ago.

'We are one of the biggest schools in 2A,” he said. 'We have to get those players out and get our numbers up to compete at the level we want to compete.”

Mount Vernon finished third in District 4 last season. The Mustangs play defending district champ Cascade and runner-up Anamosa at home this time around. Those teams handed the Mustangs their only district losses last season.

All three non-district games are on the road - at Marion, at Solon and at Center Point-Urbana. Marion and Solon are in Class 3A. Center Point-Urbana qualified for the Class 2A playoffs last season.

'We have a very difficult schedule ahead,” Pedersen said.

MOUNT VERNON, at a glance

Coach: Lance Pedersen (12th year, 77-36)

Last year: 6-5, 2A playoffs qualifier (beat Mediapolis, lost to North Fayette Valley, 55-21, lost in the second round)

Returning letterwinners: WR/CB Carter Rodman, T/DE Travis Wright, T/DL Chris Chapman, G/DT Bryce Cox, WR/CB Joe Corcoran, TE/SS Connor Hermann, RB/CB Mickey Hines, WR/CB Jake Randall, G/DL Ian Bootsmiller, C/LB Hunter Hormann, T/DT Tristan Wirfs, FB/LB Sam Moore, QB/RB/FS Jack Cochrane, QB/DB Drew Adams

Key losses: OL/DL Josh Hof, RB Ryan Muller, RB Luke Muller, WR Johnny See, LB Luke Maddock

Key to making playoffs: Establishing a No. 1 QB between Jack Cochrane and Drew Adams, developing depth and getting better throughout the season as the Mustangs did a year ago in their first season under Coach Lance Pedersen. Mount Vernon, along with Anamosa, Cascade and Monticello, will be in the mix for the four playoff spots in Class 2A District 4. A year ago the Mustangs were the surprise team to come out of the district. It would be a surprise if the Mustangs didn't qualify this year.

Games to watch: Sept. 25, at Monticello; Oct. 9, at Mount Vernon; Oct. 16, vs. Cascade

Schedule (*district game)

Aug. 28 - at Marion

Sept. 4 - at Solon

Sept. 11 - *Northeast

Sept. 18 - *Camanche

Sept. 25 - *at Monticello

Oct. 2 - at Center Point-Urbana

Oct. 9 - *Anamosa

Oct. 16 - *Cascade

Oct. 23 - *at Tipton