SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. - Two lovely words came out of Head Coach Wayne Dabbs' mouth when addressing his Mustangs after Friday's first round State Tournament opener: "Sweet Sixteen."
For the second straight season, the Mount Vernon varsity football team is headed to the GHSA Class-A Private Sweet 16 after defeating the Savannah Country Day School Hornets 41-28 at the Glenn Campus Football Field in rainy and cool conditions.
But the outside factors weren't a distraction for the Mustangs, who racked up 554 yards combined rushing and passing to edge out the competition.
The Mustangs broke the 0-0 barrier with 7:59 to play in the first quarter when Blake Kytle found Austin Douglas for the first of his three touchdowns on the day, on a 32-yard pass. The two-point conversion failed, but the Mustangs led 6-0.
Then, with just over a minute to play in the opening period, Mount Vernon struck again on an Austin Douglas five-yard rush up the middle. Kytle connected with John Watson on the two-point conversion and the Mustangs were ahead 14-0.
Austin Douglas picked up his third and final touchdown of the contest just over thirty seconds into the second period when he zigged and zagged across the field 70-yards for a score. Mount Vernon's two-point conversion failed, but the Mustangs were in control leading 20-0.
To put an exclamation on the first half offensively, the Mustangs used a bit of trickery with 5:18 to play, scoring on a double-reverse flea flicker that went to Austin Douglas, to John Watson, to Blake Kytle, who lofted a 35-yard pass perfectly to Andrew Douglas. Watson would convert the two-point conversion to give Mount Vernon a 34-0 lead.
The Hornets got on the board with 3:57 to play in the first half when Barry Kleinpeter connected with Ashley Pinckney for a 20-yard touchdown reception. Logan Ziegler made the PAT to make it a 28-7 Mustang lead.
But with 3:01 remaining in the first half, Skylar Stefaniak-Early rushed in a 19-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion failed but the Mustangs still held control of the game at 34-7.
The final score of the first half came when Savannah Country Day's Donavan Davelaar ran in a two-yard touchdown. Ziegler made the PAT for a 34-14 Mustang lead at intermission.
Mount Vernon struck first after halftime, ringing the bell with 5:16 to play in the third quarter when Kytle hooked up with Justin Douglas on a 22-yard touchdown. Will Lavender made the PAT for a 41-14 advantage.
The Hornets scored the final two touchdowns of the game, the first coming with 3:38 remaining in the third period on a Kleinpeter 66-yard pass to Matthew Mims. Ziegler made the kick for a 41-21 Mustang lead.
With 9:21 to play in the final period, Pinckney scored his second touchdown, a three-yard carry into the end zone. Ziegler was good again on the PAT for a 41-28 game.
The Hornets attempted and recovered an onside kick, but later in the drive, Austin Douglas intercepted a Kleinpeter pass to put away hopes of a Hornet comeback.
Austin Douglas led the Mustangs in rushing with a whopping 250 yards on 24 carries. (As a team, Mount Vernon rushed for 335 yards.)
Kytle was 16-for-24 with three touchdowns, two interceptions and 219 yards, his longest 40-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Douglas.
Justin Douglas paced the Mustangs in receiving with five catches, 85 yards and one score.
The Hornets were held to just 67 rushing yards on 23 attempts.
Davelaar paced the Hornets in rushing with 37 yards on seven carries.
Kleinpeter was 9-for-18 with 232 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Mims led the Hornets in receiving with 131 yards on three catches.
The Mustangs advance to the take on the no. 1 seeded Athens Academy Spartans (10-0) on Friday, Nov. 16.
The Spartans, Region 8-1A Champions, earned a bye week, for winning the region outright in the regular season.
Kickoff for next Friday's Sweet 16 game will be announced in the coming days.
Check www.mountvernonathletics.com and @MV_Athletics on Twitter for updates on the Mustangs in the Class-A Private Football State Tournament.
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 41, SAVANNAH COUNTRY DAY 28
SCD 0-14-7-7- -- 28
MV 14-20-7-0 -- 41
First Quarter
MV: Austin Douglas 32-yard pass from Blake Kytle (Two-point failed)
MV: Austin Douglas five-yard run (Two-point good)
Second Quarter
MV: Austin Douglas 70-yard run (Two-point failed)
MV: Andrew Douglas 35-yard pass from Kytle (Two-point good)
SCD: Ashley Pinckney 20-yard pass from Barry Kleinpeter (Kick good)
MV: Skylar Stefaniak-Early 19-yard run (Two-point failed)
SCD: Donavan Davelaar two-yard run (Ziegler kick)
Third Quarter
MV: Justin Douglas 22-yard pass from Kytle (Will Lavender kick)
SCD: Matthew Mims 66-yard pass from Kleinpeter (Ziegler kick)
Fourth Quarter
SCD: Ashley Pinckney three-yard run (Ziegler kick)
SCD ----- MV
First Downs: 5 ----- 15
Rushing: 23-67 ----- 33-335
Passing: 9-18, 232 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT ----- 16-24, 219 yards, 3 TD's, 2 INT
Receiving: 9-232 ----- 16-219
Fumbles/Fumbles Lost: 1/1 ----- 0/0
Penalties/Yards: 6/50 ----- 3/30
RUSHING: SCD - Donavan Davelaar 7-37; MV - Austin Douglas 24-250
PASSING: SCD - Barry Kleinpeter 9-18, 232 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT; MV - Blake Kytle 16-24, 219 yards, 3 TD's, 2 INT.
RECEIVING: SCD - Matthew Mims 3-131; MV - Justin Douglas 5-85
Records: Savannah Country Day 7-4; Mount Vernon 8-3.
Next: Mount Vernon at Athens Academy, Time TBA, Friday (Nov. 16).
MUSTANGS ADVANCE TO SWEET 16 WITH 41-28 VICTORY OVER SAVANNAH COUNTRY DAY
