SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. - The Mount Vernon varsity football team capped off a memorable week on campus, knocking off cross-town rival Holy Innocents (2-4, 0-3 Reg. 5-A) 32-29 on Homecoming 2018 at the Glenn Campus Football Field.
A back-and-forth battle throughout much of the game, the Mustangs thwarted a potential game-winning drive by the Bears when Austin Douglas stripped the ball from opposing quarterback Devin Farrell with just over one minute to play to claim the victory.
Both squads were forced to punt on their opening drives, but the Mustangs broke the 0-0 deadlock with 8:27 to play in the opening period.
On the second play from scrimmage, Blake Kytle connected with Justin Douglas for a 52-yard touchdown. Will Lavender missed the extra point, but Mount Vernon led 6-0.
Holy Innocents answered on its next drive, going 65 yards in a 13-play span when Hunter Hawk rushed in a two-yard score to tie the game at 6-6. Blake Dobbs nailed the PAT and the Bears took a 7-6 lead.
Mount Vernon's following drive resulted in a turnover when Kytle saw his pass intercepted by Graham Collins and returned 15-yards for a pick-six with 2:33 to play in the first frame. Dobbs was successful on his extra point to give the Bears a 14-6 advantage.
Mount Vernon responded with a touchdown on an eight-play drive that saw Austin Douglas score his first of four touchdowns on a screen pass from Blake Kytle from 11-yards out at the 11:44 mark of the second quarter. Lavender missed wide on the extra point attempt, but Mount Vernon pulled within two at 14-12.
The Mustang defense followed with a critical stop with time expiring in the first half.
The Bears received the ball with 7:44 to play in the first half and drove the ball to the one-yard line on 15 plays.
But the Mustangs held firm at the goal-line, stopping Michael Cox short to go into halftime trailing 14-12.
The Mustangs opened the second half with some trickery, recovering an onside kick to receive the ball at the 50-yard line.
Thirteen plays and just over six minutes later, Austin Douglas rushed in a one-yard score on a toss sweep. The two-point conversion failed, but the Mustangs reclaimed the lead at 18-14.
The Bears roared back, scoring on its next offensive possession with 1:27 to play in the third quarter.
Michael Cox rushed in a one-yard touchdown and secured the two-point conversion to give the Bears a 22-18 lead.
That lead, however, was short-lived.
After a touchback on the kickoff, Austin Douglas rushed up the sideline 80 yards to the end zone. Lavender made his extra point to put Mount Vernon ahead again at 25-22.
Mount Vernon forced Holy Innocents to punt on its next drive to open up the fourth quarter.
The Mustangs powered home another score quickly when Austin Douglas broke away for a 53-yard touchdown. Lavender was good again on the PAT to give the Mustangs a 32-22 edge.
But the Bears refused to give in, scoring with 4:34 remaining in the contest on a Hawk 27-yard rush. Dobbs made the PAT and the Bears cut into the Mustang lead at 32-29.
Mount Vernon ran off as much clock as possible, but was forced to punt with over two minutes to play to give the ball back to the Bears for a potential game-winning drive.
That never materialized when Austin Douglas snatched the ball away from Farrell and the Mustangs ran out the final 1:20 to claim the victory over the Bears.
Austin Douglas totaled 120 yards rushing on 13 carries. The senior also snagged three receptions for 36 yards.
Kytle finished the game 7-for-18 with two touchdowns and one interception.
Justin Douglas led the Mustangs in receiving with 52 yards.
The Bears rushed the ball a whopping 59 times for 211 yards.
Michael Cox led the squad with 30 carries and 94 yards.
Farrell finished 3-for-6 with 59 yards.
Collins paced the Bears in receiving with 36 yards.
The Mustangs (5-1, 3-0 Reg. 5-A), now riding a five-game winning streak, return to action on Friday, Oct. 5, traveling to the Wesleyan School to take on the Wolves in another Region 5-A contest.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Henderson Stadium in Norcross, Ga.
The Mount Vernon Athletic Department strives to build the student-athlete by providing a five-star experience built on community, relentlessness, innovation, hospitality and professionalism. As a school of inquiry, innovation and impact grounded in Christian values, we prepare all students to be college-ready, globally competitive, and engaged citizen leaders. For more information on Mount Vernon athletics, visit www.mountvernonathletics.com and follow @MV_Athletics on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news on the Mustangs.
BOX SCORE:
MOUNT VERNON 32, HOLY INNOCENTS 29
HI 14-0-8-7 -- 29
MV 6-6-13-7 -- 32
First Quarter
MV: Justin Douglas 52-yard pass from Blake Kytle (Kick failed)
HI: Hunter Hawk 2-yard run (Blake Dobbs kick)
HI: Graham Collins 15-yard interception (Dobbs kick)
Second Quarter
MV: Austin Douglas 11-yard pass from Kytle (Kick failed)
Third Quarter
MV: Austin Douglas 1-yard run (two-point conversion failed)
HI: Michael Cox 1-yard run (Cox two-point conversion)
MV: Austin Douglas 80-yard run (Will Lavender kick)
Fourth Quarter
MV: Austin Douglas 53-yard run (Lavender kick)
HI: Hawk 27-yard run (Dobbs kick)
HI ----- MV
First Downs: 16 ----- 8
Rushing: 59-211 ----- 20-144
Passing: 3-for-6, 59 yards ----- 7-for-18, 176 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT
Receiving: 3-59 ----- 7-176
Fumbles/Fumbles Lost: 2/1 -----0/0
Penalties/Yards: 7/25 ----- 9/46
RUSHING: HI - Michael Cox 30-94; MV - Austin Douglas 13-120
PASSING: HI - 3-for-6, 59 yards; MV - Blake Kytle 7-for-18, 176 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT
RECEIVING: HI - Graham Collins 1-36; MV - Justin Douglas 1-52.
Records: Holy Innocents 2-4, 0-3 Reg. 5-A; Mount Vernon 5-1, 3-0 Reg. 5-A.
Next: Mount Vernon at Wesleyan, 7:30 p.m., Friday (Oct. 5)
MUSTANGS TRIUMPH OVER RIVAL HOLY INNOCENTS BEARS 32-29 ON HOMECOMING 2018
