NORCROSS, Ga. - The Mount Vernon varsity football team saw its five-game winning streak snapped on Friday night, Oct. 5, falling to the Wesleyan Wolves (3-4, 3-1 Reg. 5-1A) 34-19 at Henderson Stadium in Region 5-1A play.
A close affair early, the Wolves opened up with a score on its first offensive drive capped off by a three-yard run by Luke Carroll with 8:24 to play in the first quarter. The PAT failed, but Wesleyan had a 6-0 advantage in the early going.
Mount Vernon got on the scoreboard in the second quarter when Austin Douglas broke away for a 28-yard touchdown with 4:00 to play. Will Lavender made the extra point to give the Mustangs a 7-6 lead.
The lead was short-lived, however.
With 14 seconds to play in the first half, JC French found Micah Smith for a 15-yard touchdown. Harrison Larner made the extra point and Wesleyan led 13-7 at halftime.
In a rollercoaster second half, the Wolves outscored the Mustangs 21-12 to take the victory.
The Wolves opened the third quarter with a Cooper Blauser 26-yard touchdown reception from French. The two-point conversion was good by JD Kavel to give the Wolves a 21-7 edge.
Mount Vernon responded quickly with an Austin Douglas five-yard touchdown run. The PAT failed, but Mount Vernon pulled within on possession at 21-13 with 8:10 to play in the third quarter.
The tipping point of the contest came with 4:11 to play in the third period when Wesleyan's John Aspinwall caught a tipped pass from Mount Vernon quarterback Blake Kytle and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown. Harrison Larner missed the extra point, but the Wolves went up two possessions 27-13.
The Mustangs banded together as they have all season, and in the fourth quarter pulled within one possession again.
With 9:10 to play in the final period Kytle connected with Justin Douglas for a 77-yard touchdown. The PAT failed, but Mount Vernon trailed by just eight at 27-19.
The Wolves were forced to punt midway through the final quarter and the Mustangs received the ball back with 7:33 to play on its own 16-yard line.
But five plays into the drive, Kytle was picked off again (this time by JD Kavel).
Wesleyan would score off the turnover with 6:10 to play in the game when French found Jackson Turner for a 21-yard touchdown. Larner made the extra point to give the Wolves a 34-19 lead.
Wesleyan finished with 220 yards rushing on 50 attempts, led by the 114 yards by Luke Carroll on 27 carries.
French was effective in the pocket with five completions, 83 yards and three touchdowns.
Mount Vernon finished with 206 yards rushing on 20 attempts. Austin Douglas paced the squad with 16 carries and 177 yards.
Kytle had a rough night under center for the Mustangs, completing 18-of-31 passes for 222 yards with one touchdown and six interceptions.
The Mustangs (5-2, 3-1 Reg. 5-1A) will enjoy a bye-week before returning to action on Friday, Oct. 19, hosting Our Lady of Mercy in another Region 5-1A contest.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Glenn Campus Football Field.
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:
WESLEYAN 34, MOUNT VERNON 19
MV 0-7-6-6 -- 19
WS 6-7-14-7 -- 34
First Quarter:
WS: Luke Carroll 3-yard run (Kick failed)
Second Quarter:
MV: Austin Douglas 28-yard run (Will Lavender PAT)
WS: Micah Smith 15-yard pass from JC French (Harrison Larner PAT)
Third Quarter:
WS: Cooper Blauser 26-yard pass from French (two-point conversion good)
MV: Austin Douglas 5-yard run (Kick failed)
WS: John Aspinwall interception 50-yards (PAT failed)
Fourth Quarter:
MV: Justin Douglas 77-yard pass from Kytle (Kick failed)
WS: Jackson Turner 21-yard pass from French (Larner kick)
MV ----- WS
First Downs: 19 ----- 10
Rushing: 50-220 ----- 20-206
Passing: 18-for-31, 222 yards, 1 TD, 6 INT ----- 5-for-14, 83 yards, 3 TD's
Receiving: 8-222 ----- 5-83
Fumbles/Fumbles Lost: 0/0 ----- 1/0
Penalties/Yards: 8/60 ----- 2/20
RUSHING: MV - Austin Douglas 16-177; WS Luke Carroll 27-114.
PASSING: MV - Blake Kytle 18-31, 222 yards, 1 TD, 6 INT; WS - JC French 5-14, 83 yards, 3 TD.
RECEIVING: MV - Justin Douglas 2-92; WS - Cooper Blauser 2-36.
Records: Mount Vernon 5-2, 3-1 reg. 5-1A; Wesleyan 3-4, 3-1 Reg. 5-1A
Next: Our Lady of Mercy at Mount Vernon, 4 p.m., Oct. 19.
