Indians overcome early mistake, run past Mustangs

MOUNT VERNON - It's rare to classify a season opener as a 'must-win” game. But given the gauntlet of future opponents awaiting the Marion Indians, last night's tilt at Mount Vernon fit the bill.

Marion overcame an early Mount Vernon defensive touchdown and overran the Class 3A newcomers, 28-6, in a non-district game.

'We didn't know what we had, we graduated a lot of people,” Marion Coach Tony Perkins said. 'We make new mistakes. This is a new team, new mistakes, and we've got to get rid of those because you can't beat yourself.”

Marion (1-0) got rid of those mistakes with a relentless rushing attack, outrushing the Mustangs 223-26. The loss spoils the debut of Mustangs Coach Lance Pedersen, who came to Mount Vernon after a successful 10-year run at Class 1A Wilton.

Mount Vernon opened the scoring when defenseman Ryan Muller scooped up a Kory Walsh fumble on Marion's first play from scrimmage and rumbled eight yards to put the Mustangs up, 6-0.

'It wasn't a nice comment,” Perkins said of message to the team coming off the field. 'Because it was just a silly mistake.”

Marion responded with a 15-play drive culminating in a Walsh plunge from two yards out to knot the game at 6-6 with 3:21 left in the opening quarter.

Led by brothers Devin and DeShaun Quinn (each with two sacks), Marion stuffed the Mount Vernon attack while continuing to pile up the rushing yards, eventually softening the Mustangs defense enough to pop a 38-yard play-fake touchdown pass from senior quarterback Hayden Meister to Derek Smith.

'Anyone who knows Marion offense knows what we do,” Meister said. 'Pound it, pound it, pound it.”

After a John Carstensen interception in Mount Vernon territory, Marion backup quarterback Gage Kray broke through the defense for a 28-yard keeper to push the Indians lead to 20-6 before halftime.

Marion opened the second half with an impressive 10-play, 65-yard drive. Meister hit a 24-yard strike to Ryan Whalen down to the two-yard-line, setting up Walsh's second TD for a 28-6 Marion lead with 7:34 left in the third quarter.

The game was a crucial confidence-builder for Marion, which welcomes defending 3A state runner-up Washington next week in its home opener before back-to-back road tests at 2A No. 9 Cascade and seventh-ranked Solon, who reached the Class 3A state semifinals last season.

Mount Vernon hosts rival Solon next week.

l Comments: douglas.miles@sourcemedia.net

Marion 28

Mount Vernon 6

AT MOUNT VERNON

Mar MV

First downs 10 5

Rushes-yards 48-223 28-23

Passing-yards 65 13

Comp-att-int 3-7-0 4-11-1

Punts-avg. 3-38.0 7-31.7

Fumbles-lost 2-2 1-0

Penalties-yards 4-40 7-45

Marion 6 14 8 0-28

Mount Vernon 6 0 0 0- 6

MV-Ryan Muller 8 fumble return (kick failed)

Mar-Kory Walsh 2 run (kick failed)

Mar-Derek Smith 38 pass from Hayden Meister (Walsh run)

Mar-Gage Kray 28 run (kick blocked)

Mar-Walsh 2 run (Meister run)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - Marion: Kory Walsh 19-61, Hayden Meister 9-54, Nick Kramer 6-32, Austin Brown 7-29, Gage Kray 1-28, John Carstensen 6-19; Mount Vernon: Ryan Muller 6-20, Ryan Ackerman 1-3, Mickey Hines 9-7, Carter Rodman 1-(-1), ), Sam Moore 3-(-2), Tommy Hook 7-12, Team 1-(-13).

Passing - Marion: Hayden Meister 3-7-0-65; Mount Vernon: Tommy Hook 4-11-1-13.

Receiving - Marion: Derek Smith 1-38, Ryan Whalen 1-24, Dalton Gardner 1-3; Mount Vernon: Connor Herrmann 2-17, Mickey Hines 2-(-4).