Below is the season's second Mustang Fan Guide that includes game notes and other information about the upcoming contest.
QUICK FACTS:
MOUNT VERNON (2018): 0-1 (0-0 Reg. 5-A)
Home: 0-0; Away 0-1, Neutral: 0-0
City: Sandy Springs, Ga.
Colors: Navy and Silver
Mascot: Mustangs
Stadium/Field: Glenn Campus Football Field
Head Coach: Wayne Dabbs (4th year at Mount Vernon; 11th year overall)
Career Record: 45-24
Record at Mount Vernon: 17-17
Region Championships: None
State Championships: None
Overall Home Record (GHSA): 11-19
Overall Away Record (GHSA): 10-24
Overall Record (GHSA): 21-44
Overall Program Record: 40-88-0
2018 Wins: None
2018 Loses: L 55-27 at Prince Avenue (August 17)
2017 Wins: W 28-0 vs. Whitefield Academy (August 25), W 24-13 at Walker (Sept. 1), W 34-16 at North Cobb Christian (Sept. 8), W 41-36 at Temple (Sept. 15), W 42-14 vs. Landmark (Sept. 22), W 35-31 vs. Holy Innocents (Sept. 29), W 21-14 vs. Our Lady of Mercy (Nov. 10).
2017 Losses: L 34-14 vs. Wesleyan ( Oct. 6), L 35-31 at Our Lady of Mercy (Oct. 13), L 70-0 vs. ELCA (Oct. 27), L 22-15 at Strong Rock (Nov. 3), L 53-12 at Mt. Paran (Nov. 17).
2017 GHSA Playoffs: W Rd. 1 vs. Our Lady of Mercy 21-14 (Nov. 10), L Rd. 2 at Mt. Paran 53-12 (Nov. 17).
MT. PISGAH (2018): 0-1 (0-0 Reg. 6-A)
Home: 0-1; Away: 0-0; Neutral: 0-0
City: John’s Creek, Ga.
Colors: Scarlet, Navy and White
Mascot: Patriots
Stadium/Field: Savior Field
Head Coach: Mike Forester (6th year at Mt. Pisgah; 6th year overall)
Career Record: 40-19
Record at Mt.Pisgah: 40-19
Region Championships: One (1) – 2013
State Championships: None
Overall Home Record (GHSA): 38-25
Overall Road Record (GHSA): 33-34
Overall Program Record: 79-84
2018 Wins: None
2018 Losses: L 42-21 vs. Holy Innocents (August 17)
2017 Wins: W 49-35 vs. Holy Innocents (August 18), W 35-7 vs. Whitefield (Sept. 1), W 45-21 vs. Walker (Sept. 8), W 55-24 at Pinecrest Academy (Sept. 22), W 45-14 vs. King’s Ridge (Sept. 29), W 49-27 at St. Francis (Oct. 6), W 45-37 at Fellowship Christian (Oct. 20), W 49-42 vs. Trion (Nov. 3).
2017 Losses: L 62-21 at Rabun County (August 25), L 35-17 at Mt. Paran (Oct. 27), L 20-17 vs. Savannah Country Day (Nov. 17).
2017 GHSA Playoffs: L 20-17 Rd. 2 vs. Savannah Country Day (Nov. 11)
(1) THE GAME: The Mount Vernon varsity football team returns to the Glenn Campus Football Field for its 2018 home opener vs. the Mt. Pisgah Patriots on Friday, August 24.
Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m.
(2) LAST TIME OUT for MT. PISGAH: The Patriots dropped their season opener at home to Holy Innocents on Friday, August 17.
The Patriots trailed 21-14 at halftime.
Both offenses went scoreless in the third period, but Holy Innocents pulled away for good in the final quarter, outscoring Mt. Pisgah 21-7.
(3) LAST TIME OUT for MOUNT VERNON: The Mustangs dropped their season opener 55-27 at no. 3 ranked Prince Avenue in Bogart, Ga. on Friday, August 17.
Tied at 21-21 at halftime, the Mustang offense was stymied in the second half and the Wolverines outscored the Mustangs 34-6 over the final two quarters of the contest.
Austin Douglas rushed for 73 yards on 16 carries. The senior also hauled in two touchdowns.
Senior John Watson led the Mustangs in receiving with 109 yards and one touchdown.
Sophomore quarterback Blake Kytle was 11-for-21, 259 yards, four (4) touchdowns and two (2) interceptions.
(4) SERIES HISTORY: The Patriots hold a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series played between the two schools.
Mt. Pisgah first played Mount Vernon in 2012, defeating the Mustangs 55-13.
The two teams met a year later with the Patriots coming on top again 48-14.
Friday’s contest will be the first time in five seasons the two squads will have met.
(5) 15th EDITION: The 2018 season marks the 15th year of Mustang football.
The program began in 1984 with one game according to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association.
The Mustangs played in the GISA from 2006-2011 before joining the GHSA in 2012.
Over than span, the Mustangs have had four coaches lead the squad: Wayne Dabbs (2015-present), Ryan Zimmerman (2013-14), Reggie Burnette (2008-12), and Stan Whitlock (2006-07).
(6) RANKINGS: At the start of the season, the Patriots ranked no. 12 in Class-A Private. Mt. Pisgah drew the no. 10 ranking from Georgia Public Broadcasting, Score Atlanta and MaxPreps Preseason Polls.
The Mustangs ranked no. 14 heading into opening week.
(7) REGION RECORDS 2017: Mount Vernon finished the 2017 season with a 2-4 record in Region 5-A play.
The Patriots took second place in Region 6-A Div. B play with a 6-1 record.
(8) RIGHT MAN, RIGHT PLACE: Head Coach Wayne Dabbs is entering his third season at the helm for the Mustangs and it's safe to say, the Mustang football squad has turned in the right direction. Since his hire three years ago, the Mustangs have gone 17-17, including the program's first GHSA State Playoff berth in 2016 and the first GHSA State Playoff home game in 2017.
Dabbs graduated from Tabernacle Christian School in Gardendale, AL in 2003 where he played football, basketball and baseball.
In football, Dabbs was named the North Jefferson News Offensive Player of the Year in all classifications in 2002 and 2003.
Dabbs took his talents to University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, KY where he was the leading receiver his senior season.
After graduating from UC in 2007, he spent one season as the running back coach at the University of West Georgia, one year as quarterback coach at Cumberland (2008) and one year as running back coach at Murray State (2009).
Dabbs returned to his high school alma mater from 2010-2012, winning back-to-back State Championships in 2011 and 2012 that included a 17 game winning streak.
He also spent two seasons (2013 and 2014) as the offensive line coach at The Westminster School in Atlanta.
(9) A CLOSER LOOK AT COACH MIKE FORESTER: Mt. Pisgah has seen a surge in its football program since Mike Forester took over in 2013.
In his inaugural campaign, Forester led the Patriots to a Reg. 6-A Championship with a 12-1 overall record.
Forester has never had a losing season at Mt. Pisgah. His 2014 squad finished 8-4 followed by two seasons at 6-5.
The 2017 campaign saw the Patriots finish 8-3.
In his first season at the helm, Mt. Pisgah made it to the Class-A Private State Semifinals.
Under Forester’s watch, the Patriots have advanced to the State Quarterfinals once (2014) and the second round four time (2013, ’14, ’16 and ’17).
(10) HOME OPENERS FOR MOUNT VERNON (GHSA): The Mustangs have faired well in home openers since joining the GHSA in 2012.
Mount Vernon is 4-2 and currently owns a two-game winning streak in home openers at the Glenn Campus Football Field.
In 2016, Mount Vernon knocked off Walker 23-16 on Sept. 2.
Last season, the Mustangs shutout Whitefield 28-0 at home on August 25.
(11) PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR MOUNT VERNON:
- Sr. RB/WR Austin Douglas: Finished with 183 total yards in the Mustangs’ 55-27 loss at Prince Avenue. Brought in two touchdowns, one of which was a 79-yard completion from sophomore quarterback Blake Kytle.
- Sr. WR John Watson: Finished with 109 yards receiving for the Mustangs at Prince Avenue, including an 89-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.
- Soph. QB Blake Kytle: Threw for 259 yards at Prince Avenue on 11-of-21 passing. Finished with four touchdowns, the longest an 89-yard completion to Watson.
(12) PLAYERS to WATCH for MT. PISGAH:
- Sr. QB Connor Norwood
- Jr. RB Will Pascucci
- Sr. WR Brady Natoli
- Sr. G/DE Noah Swift
(13) SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow @MV_athletics on Twitter on Friday night for in-game updates as the Mustangs take on the Patriots. The game can also be followed by using the hashtags #MVfootball, #MVpisgah18, and #BeatPisgah.
(14) ATHLETIC WEBSITE: For all the latest scores, schedules, rosters, news releases and other athletic information, visit www.mountvernonathletics.com.
(15) LINKS: Copy and past the following links for helpful information on Friday's contest.
- Mt. Pisgah Roster (MaxPreps):
Click Here
- Mt. Pisgah Schedule (MaxPreps):
Click Here
-Mt. Vernon Roster (MV Athletics):
Click Here
-Mt. Vernon Schedule (MaxPreps):
Click Here
- Mt. Vernon Game 1 Recap (MV Athletics):
Click Here
*Sources: The Georgia High School Football Historians Association, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Georgia High School Football Daily, Recruit GA and MaxPreps aided in this report. For more information, contact Mount Vernon Asst. AD Chandler Lee at clee@mountvernonschool.org.
