Knowing they were in for a tough battle, the Mount Vernon Mustangs went up against the Anamosa Raiders on Friday October 9 at Mount Vernon’s home field. The Raiders were ranked 4th in the state, and the Mustangs were ranked 6th before the game.

    The game started out with a 34 yard field goal attempt by Anamosa player, Wyatt Heims. The kick was good. Score is now 3-0 Anamosa. 30 seconds later quarterback, Drew Adams throws a pass to Carter Rodman for 58 yards. Sam Moore’s kick is good for the extra point. The Mustangs now ahead, 7-3. With only 10 seconds left in the 1st Anamosa player, Trevor Wehling runs the balls 4 yards for a touchdown. Anamosa now leads with a score of 10-7 at the end of the first quarter.

    Coming into the second quarter strong Adams hooks up with Connor Hermann for a 22 yard gain on the play, running it into the endzone. Sam Moore’s kick was good. The Stangs are now up 14-10. On the same series of downs Carter Rodman receives a pass from Adams for a 16 yard gain on the play. Touchdown Mount Vernon! The score is now 21-10 Mount Vernon. With 34 seconds left in the 2nd, Anamosa’s Trevor Wehling runs the ball 4 yards for a touchdown. Stangs are still leading 21-17. Sam Moore ends the second quarter with a 40 yard field goal attempt by Sam Moore. The kick is good! Stangs end the first half with a score of 17-24, Mount Vernon.

    Drew Adams runs the ball 6 yards in the end zone with 8 and a half seconds left in the beginning of the second half. Sam Moore’s kick is no good. Score is now 30-17, Mount Vernon. 4 minutes left in the 3rd Wehling from Anamosa runs the ball 14 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion is no good, with a score of now 23-30. At the end of the 3rd Jack Cochrane sprints the ball 7 yards. Sam Moore’s kick is no good. Touchdown Mount Vernon! Stangs are still ahead, 36-23.

    Two seconds into the 4th quarter Anamosa opponent, Kolin Schulte, takes the ball into the endzone for a one yard gain. Kick by Ryan Krapfl is good. With 7 and a half minutes left in the final quarter, Wehling from Anamosa takes the ball 30 yards down the field for a touchdown. Krapfl’s kick is no good. The score is now tied 36-36. In the middle of the 4th Adams is sacked at the Mustangs 0 line resulting in a safety for 2 points. Raiders are now up 38-36. Schulte from Anamosa takes the ball 3 yards for a touchdown. Krapfl’s kick is good. Score is now 45-36. With 2 minutes left in the game Adams connects a pass with Hermann for a 13 yard gain on the play. Touchdown Mount Vernon! Sam Moore’s kick is no good. The Anamosa Raiders take home the win with the final score being, 45-42. Senior Joe Corcoran shares with us his thoughts on the game, "Our offense was explosive, but we couldn't get it done on defense."

    The Mustangs will host their last home game this Friday October 15. This will be Mount Vernon’s senior night for the football team, as well as a pink out for breast cancer awareness. Please come out to support the Mustangs this Friday as they take on the Cascade Cougars.

    â€šÃ„úIn close ballgames the little things make a big difference.  I was proud of the team’s effort.  Every player laid it all on the line and gave everything they had.  I can’t ask for anything else,” Coach Pedersen said after the game.

Story by Maggie Rechkemmer