Right on Schedule: La Belle scores five TDs to lead Marauders past Cougars

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Mt. Vernon’s Keagan La Belle runs past a Greenfield-Central defender during their sectional semifinal game on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. ( Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

GREENFIELD — The rain never stopped on Friday night and neither did Mt. Vernon’s Keagan La Belle.

With rival Class 4A No. 11 Greenfield-Central determined to play spoiler during the Sectional 21 semifinals at Hancock Health Stadium, La Belle delivered right on schedule — despite the elements — and powered the 4A No. 4 Marauders to a 49-34 victory.

The senior running back rushed for 302 yards on 32 carries and nearly tied the school record with five rushing touchdowns as he carried the Marauders (10-1) to their 10th straight win and one game closer to a third straight sectional title.

The win sends Mt. Vernon to the Sectional 21 title game on Friday, Nov. 5 at home against Connersville (3-8) for a shot at the program’s seventh championship overall.

“I’m good. It was tough tonight, but whatever,” La Belle remarked with a smile after his career-best, single-game performance. “You got to do what you got to do to help create wins for this team. Obviously, everyone does their part, and the offensive line really took over this game and helped me spring those few runs.”

La Belle had three touchdowns in the first half and two more in the second with his longest measuring 66 yards late in the third quarter that put the Marauders ahead 41-20. He now has 17 rushing TDs this season and 40 in his career.

“I’m glad he showed up tonight. He didn’t come off the field and made huge plays in all aspects,” Mt. Vernon head coach Vince Lidy said. “Kick off return, defense, offense, and that’s what he’s being doing for three years for us. He’s fresh in terms of where the season is, and in a game like this, you can’t get tired. You got to go out and make plays when you’re number is called.”

La Belle’s fourth rushing TD was a direct response after the host Cougars (7-4) narrowed the deficit, 35-20, following a 57-yard passing touchdown from Rashawn Street to Kirk Knecht in the third quarter.

Street had two rushing touchdowns for the Cougars and finished with 148 yards on 17 carries. He completed 3 of 5 pass attemtps for 88 yards and kept the Cougars close in the first quarter with a 54-yard rushing touchdown that cut G-C’s early deficit 14-12.

Street had runs of 28, 22, 54 and 22 yards, which played a factor during G-C’s 5-for-5 performance on fourth downs. The Cougars struggled on third downs, however, going 1-for-11, which resulted in four punts.

“Mt. Vernon is ranked fourth in the state. We went out and battled with the fourth-ranked team in both the AP and coaches poll, and I think we showed tonight that we belong in that group as well because we gave them everything we had,” G-C head coach Travis Nolting said. “Our kids came out and played hard. They’re a very good football team, and our kids could have packed it in at halftime, and they didn’t. They came out and battled in the second half and that shows the progress we’ve made as a team from where we were to where we are now.”

Greenfield-Central was aiming for a fifth-straight win after matching the 2010 team that finished the season 7-5. Their final-season record in 2021 marked the program’s fourth in 11 years.

Knecht did his damage and best to clinch win No. 8 in the first and third quarters, specifically, running back G-C’s second kickoff return 80 yards for a touchdown that made it 7-6 with 3 minutes, 43 seconds left in the opening frame.

Knecht’s runback came just 13 seconds following Mt. Vernon’s first touchdown. He also had two receptions for 83 yards.

Mt. Vernon converted touchdowns on seven of 10 possessions, but the Cougars’ defense forced a turnover on downs on their first.

On Mt. Vernon’s second offensive series, quarterback Gehrig Slunaker connected with Ashden Gentry for a 52-yard touchdown on the drive’s first play and an early 7-0 advantage with 3:56 remaining in the first quarter.

Slunaker competed 4 of 7 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Gentry posted three receptions for 84 yards. The other TD pass went for 38 yards to Avery Williams Jr. in the second quarter that increased MV’s lead to 28-12.

Mt. Vernon turned it’s slim 14-12 cushion into a 35-12 margin by halftime behind hree consecutive scores — two going to La Belle.

“Every time we come out here, it’s good competition,” La Belle said. “There’s a lot of talking out here, but it’s all good. It doesn’t matter what touchdown I had. All that matters is that we won the game.”

Mt. Vernon rushed for 426 yards on 50 carries. Greenfield-Central was held to 95 yards in total offense in the first half and finished with 236 yards on the ground.

Andrew Zellers had 48 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter that capped a 15-play drive, covering 67 yards in nearly 6 minutes.

La Belle had the program’s second-best, single-game rushing touchdown effort. Marauders’ alum Derek Shelton and Tyler Dicks both had six rushing touchdowns in a single game throughout the program’s history.

La Belle almost added a sixth TD — though not rushing — early in the fourth quarter as he ran back a kick return for 75 yards, but a holding penalty wiped if off the board.

“I’m kind of sad the kick return got called back, but it is what it is,” La Belle said. “It’s about answering the call. When they score. We score. You just have to keep getting on top.”

Greenfield-Central scored three touchdowns in the second half, while the Marauders had one, in addition to two lost fumbles in the slippery conditions.

La Belle carried the ball four times on the Marauders’ final drive, tallying 31 yards before Slunaker knelt the ball to run out the clock.

“We worked out tails off these past four years, since (former head coach) Mike Kirschner came here. He started it all, but coach Lidy has us going well,” La Belle said. “He’s just making us better each and every day.”

As for an encore, La Belle was ready to go another 48 minutes after the final horn with the sectional finals in mind.

“I don’t like all that treatment and stuff. I just go to practice and that’s it,” La Belle said.