Below is the season's fourth Mustang Fan Guide that includes game notes and other information about the upcoming contest.
QUICK FACTS:
MOUNT VERNON (2018): 2-1 (0-0 Reg. 5-A)
Home: 1-0; Away 1-1, 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: 47-24
Record at Mount Vernon: 19-17
Region Championships: None
State Championships: None
Overall Home Record (GHSA): 12-19
Overall Away Record (GHSA): 11-24
Overall Record (GHSA): 23-44
Overall Program Record: 42-88-0
2018 Wins: W 41-21 vs. Mt. Pisgah (August 24), W 41-17 at First Presbyterian Day (August 31).
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).
TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL LIONS (2018): 3-0 (0-0 Reg. 5-A)
Home: 1-0; Away: 2-0; Neutral: 0-0
City: Sharpsburg, Ga.
Colors: Purple and Black
Mascot: Lions
Stadium/Field: Trinity Christian Football Stadium
Head Coach: Kenny Dallas (2nd season at Trinity Christian; 13th overall)
Career Record: 88-41
Record at Trinity Christian: 14-3
Region Championships: 1 (Last: 2017 in GISA AAA)
State Championships: none
Overall Home Record: 20-18
Overall Road Record: 17-16
Overall Neutral Record: 0-1
Overall Program Record: 37-34-1
2018 Wins: W 20-19 vs. Northeast (August 17), W 16-0 at Luella (August 24), W 45-27 vs. Tattnall Square (August 31).
2018 Losses: none
2017 Wins: W 49-0 vs. Flint River Academy (August 25), W 45-0 at Windsor Academy (August 25), W 62-0 at Westwood School (Sept. 8), W 61-6 vs. Loganville Christian (Sept. 22), W 77-8 vs. Holy Spirit Prep (Oct. 6), W 64-0 at Dominion Christian (Oct. 13), W 48-6 at Heritage School (Oct. 20), W 48-0 vs. Westfield School (Oct. 27), W 35-0 vs. Southland Academy, W 38-21 at Gatewood School (Nov. 10).
2017 Losses: L 26-16 vs. Deerfield-Windsor (August 11), L 35-28 OT at Bulloch Academy (August 18), L 14-9 v. Valwood School (Nov. 17)
2017 Playoffs (GISA): W 48-0 vs. Westfield Rd. 1 (Oct. 27), W 35-0 vs. Southland Rd. 2 (Nov.3), W 38-21 at Gatewood in Semifinals (Nov. 10), L 14-9 v. Valwood in State Finals (Nov. 17).
(1) THE GAME: The Mount Vernon varsity football team returns to the gridiron on Friday, Sept. 14 to take on the Trinity Christian School Lions in Sharpsburg, Ga. for the first Region 5-A game of the 2018 season.
Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at the Trinity Christian Football Stadium.
(2) LAST TIME OUT for TRINITY CHRISTIAN: The Lions defeated the Tattnall Square Academy Trojans 45-27 at home on August 31.
The Lions jumped out to a 21-13 lead at the end of the first quarter and led 35-20 at halftime.
Trinity Christian’s defense was smothering in the second half, allowing just one score while the offense added 10 more points for the win.
The Lions rushed for 383 yards on 38 carries.
Junior RB Sharmari Reed rushed for two touchdowns on three carries and 74 yards.
Senior RB Zach Jones rushed for three touchdowns and 213 yards in the victory as well.
(3) LAST TIME OUT for MOUNT VERNON: The Mustangs knocked off the First Presbyterian Day School Vikings 41-17 on Friday, August 31 at Austin Childers Field at George S. Johnson Stadium.
Mount Vernon led 13-7 at the end of the first quarter and 27-7 at halftime.
The Mustangs would hold the Vikings at bay while outscoring FPD 14-10 over the final two quarters.
Sr. RB Austin Douglas rushed for 178 yards on nine carries and scored three touchdowns.
Sr. WR John Watson hauled in two touchdowns from soph. QB Blake Kytle, the longest a 64-yard score.
(4) SERIES HISTORY: Friday’s contest at Trinity Christian will be the second time in program history the Mustangs will meet the Lions.
Mount Vernon leads the all-time series 1-0, defeating Trinity Christian 55-3 on Nov. 4, 2011.
(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) REGION RECORDS 2017: Mount Vernon finished the 2017 season with a 2-4 record in Region 5-A play.
The Lions, new to the GHSA this season, finished the 2017 campaign with a 5-0 mark in GISA Region 1-AAA play to claim the Region Championship.
(7) 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 19-17, 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.
(8) A CLOSER LOOK AT COACH KENNY DALLAS: The Lions are led by head coach Kenny Dallas, currently in his second season at Trinity Christian and 13th season overall.
Dallas led the Lions to the GISA AAA State Championship game in 2017, falling to Valwood 14-9.
According to Georgia High School Football Historians, Dallas is the third head coach in program history for the Lions joining Chris Hanson (2011-14) and Dan Matthews (2015-16).
Dallas is second in all-time wins at Trinity Christian with 14 and needs five more victories to be the winningest in the program’s short history.
Before making his home in Sharpsburg, Dallas coached at Landmark Christian from 2001-2011, picking up region championships from 2002-07.
His current record stands at 88-41.
(9) HOME OPENERS FOR MOUNT VERNON (GHSA): The Mustangs have faired well in home openers since joining the GHSA in 2012.
Mount Vernon is 5-2 and currently owns a three-game winning streak in home openers at the Glenn Campus Football Field.
The Mustangs knocked off the Patriots last week 41-21.
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.
(10) PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR MOUNT VERNON:
- Sr. RB/WR Austin Douglas: Finished with 178 yards rushing on nine carries and three touchdowns in Mount Vernon’s victory over FPD on Friday, August 31. Also racked up 162 returning yards from kickoff and punt returns.
- Sr. WR John Watson: Finished with three receptions for 86 yards and two touchdowns in Mount Vernon’s 41-17 win at FPD on August 31.
- Jr. RB Skylar Stefaniak-Early: Rushed for 111 yards (92 in the second half) on nine carries in Mount Vernon’s 41-17 victory at FPD on August 31.
(11) PLAYERS to WATCH for Trinity Christian:
- Sr. RB Zach Jones: Has rushed for 351 yards in three games for the Lions with three touchdowns. Averaging 117 yards per game rushing and 11 yards per carry.
- Jr. RB Sharmari Reed: Rushed for two touchdowns in Trinity Christian’s 45-27 victory against Tattnall Square on August 31. Averaging 11 yards per carry.
(12) PRESEASON ALL-STATE: Seniors Austin Douglas and Justin Douglas garnered much praise before the 2018 season, earning spots on multiple preseason All-State Teams.
The brothers were named to the Recruit Georgia, Georgia High School Football Daily, and AJC Class-A Private Preseason All-State Teams
(13) WATCH LIVE: Friday’s contest at Trinity Christian will be streamed live through the NFHS Network.
Copy and paste the following like to subscribe (Note: There may be a fee to watch):
Click Here
(14) MUSTANGS ON YOUTUBE: For all the latest videos with coaches and players, subscribe to “MV Athletics” on YouTube.
(15) SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow @MV_athletics on Twitter on Friday night for in-game updates as the Mustangs take on the Lions. The game can also be followed by using the hashtags #MVfootball, #MVtrinity18, and #BeatTrinity
(16) ATHLETIC WEBSITE: For all the latest scores, schedules, rosters, news releases and other athletic information, visit www.mountvernonathletics.com.
(17) LINKS: Copy and past the following links for helpful information on Friday's contest.
- Trinity Christian Schedule (MaxPreps):
Click Here
- Trinity Christian Roster (MaxPreps):
Click Here
- Trinity Christian Stats (MaxPreps):
Click Here
- Mount Vernon Roster (MV Athletics):
Click Here
- Mount Vernon Schedule (MaxPreps):
Click Here
- Mount Vernon Stats (MaxPreps):
Click Here
- Mount Vernon Game 1 Recap at Prince Avenue (MV Athletics):
Click Here
- Mount Vernon Game 2 Recap vs. Mt. Pisgah (MV Athletics):
Click Here
- Mount Vernon Game 3 Recap at FPD (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.
