By Spenser Hanson
For the Daily Reporter
FORTVILLE — On what should have been a celebratory homecoming night, frustration abounded for the Mt. Vernon Marauders. Unable to overcome penalties, turnovers, and a tenacious Delta defense, Mt. Vernon fell to 4A No. 5 Delta, 27-10.
The teams played each other to a stalemate in the first quarter, with the score knotted at 0-0 after one quarter. Delta’s opening drive was thwarted by an offensive pass interference call, forcing a punt. Mt. Vernon was unable to score as a 4th down attempt was intercepted, giving the Eagles good field position, which they converted into a field goal early in the second quarter.
In quick succession, Delta added two touchdowns to build up a 17-0 lead. First, a 24-yard touchdown run by Wesley Stitt and then a pick-six on yet another 4th down attempt provided the scores.
Mt. Vernon, which had been struggling with Delta’s defensive line, responded to this adversity with two quick scoring drives of their own. First, Rylen Cole was able to find some holes in the defense, and the Marauders rode him down the field, capped off by a 24-yard touchdown run. Cole would finish with 77 yards rushing on the night. Following an interception by Jalen Thomeson, the Marauders were able to tack on an AJ Swingle field goal to cut the deficit to 17-10 at halftime.
The second half was not full of homecoming miracles, however. The Delta defense stiffened, and the Marauder defense was simply unable to get off the field. On both Delta scoring drives in the second half, the Eagles took over 6 minutes off the clock on each possession, with numerous third-down conversions. On a 4th-and-short the Marauders forced, an offsides penalty on Delta’s punt attempt gave the Eagles new life and, eventually, a touchdown.
For Mt. Vernon coach Mike Kirschner, the frustration was evident for all to hear.
“Penalties, pick sixes, sloppiness. Can’t happen,” Kirschner said. “Also can’t have guys showing up to school late and forcing me to suspend them. Until they think this is important, nothing will change. Print it.”
Mt. Vernon will get a chance to refocus and regroup next week, as the Marauders play host to Pendleton Heights at 7:30 PM.
#5 Delta 27, Mt. Vernon 10
DHS (5-0, 3-0 HHC); 0;17;3;7; — ;27
MV (3-2, 1-2 HHC); 0;10;0;0; — ;10
