Big-play Marauders run past Richmond

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Mt. Vernon's Dawan Langston runs to the one yard line against Richmond during their game on Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. (Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

For the Daily Reporter

FORTVILLE — Mt. Vernon responded to an early deficit in explosive fashion Friday night against the visiting Richmond Red Devils.

After Richmond scored the opening touchdown, Mt. Vernon’s Keagan LaBelle took the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the house and the onslaught was on. The big-play Marauders would go on to score 45 consecutive points in a dominating 45-14 victory.

Mt. Vernon scored twice on special teams, including a 32-yard punt return from junior Rylan Cole and added an 87-yard strike from Gehrig Slunaker to tight end Luke Rappe.

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Mt. Vernon held the Red Devils following LaBelle’s TD. On their first offensive possession, the Marauders needed just two plays to go up 14-7 when the Slunaker and Rappe connected. The 6-foot-3 tight end credited his teammates on the play.

“Both of my receivers blocked and I had to stiff-arm the safety,” Rappe said. “Other than that, it was open field. The linebacker wasn’t there so there was a big hole.”

Rappe had a career night with 5 catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. Slunaker, who split time again with senior Shaun Shipley, had a nice night with nine completions for 174 yards. Rappe said it was time for him to step up after some key graduation losses and his coach was happy to see it happen.

“I was really pleased with him,” Mt. Vernon coach Mike Kirschner said. “He’s a senior and he’s been waiting for his turn. He caught that one right out of the box, got a couple blocks down field and sprung it.”

Mt. Vernon excelled at all phases, but most notably on special teams. Kicker A.J. Swingle did his part by converting a field goal and consistently sending kickoffs sailing into the end zone.

“Special teams gave us great field position all night,” Kirschner said. “(Richmond) came out and played well their opening drive. Their young quarterback is going to be a great one, he’s going to be elite.”

Richmond converted a long fourth down play and used that momentum to jump ahead 7-0 early in the opening quarter. At the point, the Mt. Vernon fuse was lit and the fireworks started.

The defense fueled the explosion as sacks by Kayden Bensheimer and Jared Williams helped stop Richmond on their second possession.

An interception by Charlie Moore early in the second quarter set up a 9-yard scoring strike by Cole, who later added a 19-yard touchdown early in the third quarter to put Mt. Vernon up 35-7. Dawan Langston got into the act as well with three catches for 42 yards, including an impressive 26-yard reception where he ripped the ball away from a Richmond defender. The catch went down to the 1-yard line and set up a Shipley touchdown run.

“You always like to get out of your non-conference season undefeated and we are,” Kirschner said. “Now we get a chance to go up against a tough Greenfield opponent with a new staff, new coach and new philosophy. It’s going to be tough for us but I like where we’re at. We’re fairly healthy and we’re getting a few people back.”

Mt. Vernon starts the Hoosier Heritage Conference season next week at Greenfield-Central in the first of back-to-back road games against county rivals.