Grit and workmanlike approach lead Mount Vernon back to Class 3A state football semifinal

MOUNT VERNON – Consider them the “Lunch Pail Kids.”

Mount Vernon’s gritty, blue-collar crew of football players whose helmets and cleats serve as their hard hats and work boots. A group with a nose-to-the-grindstone approach that fuels a relentless effort that is the same for the first and final play in practice and games.

The lunch bucket mantra came from Mustangs Coach Brad Meester, who played for late legendary Aplington-Parkersburg Coach Ed Thomas before going to University of Northern Iowa and a 14-year professional career with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“Coach Meester always says that it's a lunch pail type of a day,” Mount Vernon’s Jase Jaspers said. “Just going to work another day. He says that in practice and he says that before games, so I think that's crucial.”

The workmanlike attitude has powered the fourth-ranked Mustangs to the Class 3A state semifinal against No. 3 Humboldt Saturday at UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls scheduled for 7 p.m. Mount Vernon is making its 15th semifinal appearance and second in three seasons.

The Mustangs are aware of the test ahead of them.

“It’s going to take several lunch pails this this week. There’s no question,” said Meester, who is in his first season as Mustangs head coach and sixth on the staff. “I don't know where but I think that just came up over the years. I think even when I was playing, we talked about that. I don't remember which coach had taught me that. We talk a lot about that during the weeks.”

Toughness and resolve have been a key trait of the Mustangs. They are ready to battle any and all challengers and they won’t quit until the final whistle.

“Meester enjoys telling us about grit,” Mount Vernon’s Mikey Ryan said. “We can do this anywhere (or) anytime. We can beat anybody, anywhere. We can be practicing in the parking lot and still get the job done. Sometimes it's a couple lunch pails type of day, but it depends.”

The steady and unwavering fortitude is the reason they are in this position. The Mustangs trailed quarterfinal foe No. 6 Algona, 22-0, battling back to score a go-ahead takedown and two-point conversion in the fourth for a 31-28 victory.

“We all trust in each other and we know each person is going to do their job,” Jaspers said. “Even at halftime when we were down. no one was really that un nervous. We all knew we had more work to do.”

Mount Vernon has standout players. Quarterback Kellen Haverback has passed for 2,053 yards and 24 touchdowns, including 833 yards and eight scores to Jaspers and 441 yards and six TDs to Ryan. Cooper Hird has amassed nearly 800 rushing yards and 13 TDs.

The collective performance is greater than the individual contributions. The team rewards decals based on unit achievement instead of personal feats. They thrive with a unified, team-first mentality, reaching the 10-win plateau for just the third time in about the last 18 seasons.

“I think we've gotten to that point where when one guy has success, I think all the other guys take great pride in that,” Meester said. “They love that. They love seeing other people’s success, which is an awesome thing.”

Mount Vernon’s defense has wreaked havoc on offenses all season. The Mustangs lead the state with 62 team sacks and 124 tackles for loss. They are second only to Dubuque Wahlert in points allowed a game. Mount Vernon gives up just 10.5 per contest.

The constant grind is evidence with the Mustangs outscoring foes, 138-45, in the second half this season. Mount Vernon averages 4.1 points allowed in the final two quarters and has shut out five teams after halftime.

Sometimes it is done by talent and others the game plan is just better.

“I think it is personnel and scheme,” Mustangs defensive lineman and North Dakota State commit Ethan Wood said after the 42-6 first-round victory over Carroll. “Our defensive coaches are really smart. They know a lot about the game.”

Humboldt (10-1) is coming off a 35-3 quarterfinal win over Solon, who had Mount Vernon it’s lone loss – a 7-6 final on Sept. 20. Both teams enter the semifinals with seven-game win streaks.

The Mustangs plan to punch the time clock, focus on their own work and compete to the very end. No matter how many lunch pails are needed.

“They a great team, that's for sure,” Ryan said. “I mean all teams now are really well-coached and just good teams but I think it's more on us. When we're doing what we're doing, um, we're pretty hard to stop.

“We try not to worry about the opponent as much just worry about if we're clicking and doing our stuff…just do our best to come out with the victory. Just keep on pushing.”

The winner will face the winner of co-Nos. 1 Sergeant Bluff-Luton (11-0) and Wahlert (11-0) next week.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com