For The Daily Reporter
FORTVILLE — “Waste.” That was the talking point from Mt. Vernon head coach Doug Armstrong following his team’s 21-6 loss to the Hamilton Heights Huskies.
“You have guys that have opportunities to play or get on the field but they have to sit out a day,” Armstrong remarked after his team’s season-opener on Friday night. “They’re missing reps and you’re missing your opportunity to play.”
Two players that were taking advantage of their opportunity were Jimmy Campbell and Jordan House. The pair picked apart the Huskies offense and sustained two four-minute drives.
Combined the duo amassed 127 yards of offense, nearly all of the Marauders’ yardage in the quarter.
However, the Marauders would end up shooting themselves in the foot not once but twice in Huskies territory.
The first came off of a Campbell interception that was taken 60 yards for a Huskies touchdown.
Shaking it off Campbell marched the Marauders from their own 45-yard line all the way to the Huskies’ 5 before they fell short of a first down.
But the defense would fight through the adversity and hold the Huskies to minus-2 yards before forcing them to punt from their own end zone.
The Marauders, with excellent field position, would take just four snaps before a costly fumble took away their best shot at a score. Again, the Marauders’ defense held firm and prevented any offense from the Huskies.
Nathan Seifert joined the party in the second quarter, bulldozing his way to 35 yards. Yet, even with his strong running the Marauders were unable to punch it through after six attempts from inside the 10-yard line.
Giving Mt. Vernon a taste of their own medicine, the Huskies drove the ball from their own 19 for their second score of the night. The drive was capped off by an Ethan Jones 4-yard scamper.
“Their size wore on us a little bit,” Armstrong stated. “After halftime, they decided they would run behind their big offense line.”
They would strike again quickly after the Marauder offense was unable to drive the ball forward and coughed up another turnover.
A Campbell 55-yard run would breathe some life into the Marauders’ offense. The run would lead to a 13-yard pass from Campbell to freshmen Braxton Trittipo for the Marauders only score of the evening.
The Marauders will look to bounce back next week against the Marion Giants, a team they beat 42-9 a year ago.
