KENNESAW, Ga. - The Mount Vernon varsity football team is moving on to the GHSA Class-A Private Sweet 16.
The Mustangs punched their ticket to the next round by defeating the Mt. Paran Christian Eagles 14-7 on Saturday night, Nov.13 at Catherine Steele Sewell Stadium.
After allowing a second quarter score late, the Mustangs went into the locker room trailing 7-0.
But in the second half, the Mustang defense held the Eagle offense scoreless while Mount Vernon added two touchdowns to tie and take the lead.
Mount Vernon's first score came midway through the third quarter on a Liam O'Toole 11-yard rush. Will Lavender made the PAT and the game was knotted at 7-7.
The Mustangs broke the deadlock just 90 seconds into the fourth quarter.
O'Toole broke loose, this time for a 47-yard touchdown run. Lavender made the extra point to give the Mustangs a 14-7 lead.
The Mount Vernon defense held the Eagles at bay en route to the win.
With the victory the no. 3 seeded Mustangs (7-4) will travel to no. 1 seeded FPD (9-2) on Friday, Nov. 19.
FPD is fresh off a 21-14 first round victory over Aquinas and won the 2021 Region 1-A Private Championship for a second consecutive season.
Kickoff for Friday's contest is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Austin Childers Field at George S. Johnson Memorial Stadium in Macon, Ga.
The Mount Vernon Athletic Department strives to build the student-athlete by providing a five-star experience built on community, courage, development, 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 and follow @MV_Athletics on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news on the Mustangs.
