FORTVILLE — The reminders from their recent past are easy to spot inside the Mt. Vernon High School athletics trophy case.
Three consecutive winning seasons from 2018-2020, back-to-back sectional championships in 2019-20, a first-ever regional title in 2019, an unbeaten 2020 regular season and a first Hoosier Heritage Conference title since 2012 that the Marauders garnered last fall.
What’s next for the Mt. Vernon football team in 2021?
Everything, while at the same time, nothing that they haven’t already achieved.
“It’s definitely a lot different because we’re not the underdogs anymore, so we’re kind of protecting our new tradition,” senior Keagan La Belle said. “People are looking up to you now. It’s a lot more exciting than it has been. We could be the winningest team in Mt. Vernon history, so we’re working towards that goal. It’s our goal to be that winning team.”
In three years, the Marauders seniors have proven to be winners. The group has steered the Class 4A program to a 30-8 record since 2018 and a No. 1 state ranking last season under former head coach Mike Kirschner, who is now leading 6A Warren Central.
With first-year head coach Vince Lidy now at the helm, expectations remain the same for the Marauders, who finished 13-1 in 2020.
Lidy, a varsity assistant at Mt. Vernon since 2018, has been with the Marauders every step of the way throughout their transformation and spent 18 seasons at Hamilton Southeastern as an assistant.
While at HSE, Lidy and the Royals went 141-60 with seven Hoosier Crossroads Conference titles won, two sectionals and a 5A state runner-up finale in 2005.
“The expectations are the same as always. He’s been with us the past three years. He’s been along for the ride, so he knows what it’s like, so nothing changes,” Mt. Vernon senior quarterback Gehrig Slunaker said.
The only alteration would be a reversal of last November’s 35-14 loss to eventual 4A state champion Roncalli in the regional title game.
This spring and summer, the Marauders have been working towards that potential with six senior starters on offense and eight on defense, including four All-HHC first team selections.
“We have a (22-person) senior class that’s pretty good and getting pushed by a junior class and some sophomores that are fighting for jobs, so it’s really increased some of our depth,” Lidy remarked.
“When we tested out in the end of the spring and summer, in regards to team speed, this is the fastest team speed that I’ve ever had in terms of testing. With that, we have guys in different packages where we can put out guys that can run in every spot. The good news is, a lot of those guys played last year, so they know what to expect.”
Slunaker and La Belle are two of those key team leaders.
Back for his third season at quarterback, Slunaker (6-foot-2, 183 pounds) passed for 1,889 yards last season with 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He rushed for eight TDs and 256 yards, but the majority of Mt. Vernon’s carries are La Belle’s to handle this fall.
While backfield cohort Rylan Cole, an All-State selection last year, is off at the collegiate level, La Belle is ready to replicate his 2020 efficiency between the tackles as the team’s starting running back.
As a junior, La Belle (5-7, 170) rushed for 903 yards and 20 touchdowns while adding one touchdown reception.
“Just hitting people. I love it. It’s nice being aggressive,” La Belle said.
The Marauders’ spread offense will be high-energy with junior Eli Bridenthal (6-2, 179), a standout multi-sport athlete, projected to start at wide receiver along with senior Ashden Gentry (5-8, 164), an All-HHC selection who posted 48 receptions for 671 yards and four TDs in 2020.
Junior George Burhenn (6-5, 202) and senior Rylan Robinson (5-11, 156) bolster the receiving corp.
On the front line, key returners Razhaun Wells (6-3, 265) will start at right tackle and senior Cole Herman (6-5, 205) will handle left tackle.
Sophomore Roland Tremble (6-3, 300) is at left guard, junior Kyler Grill (5-10, 220) is at center and junior Ben Roembke (6-1, 243) is at right guard.
“Coach (Toby) Jacobs (our offensive coordinator) and I were together at Hamilton Southeastern for a long time, and I coached offensive line, so as we’ve adapted our offense over there, it was a spread, but we still want to go out and run the football and run at people,” Lidy said.
“But we adjust to get people in space and our skill athletes are pretty good. If I can get five kids out there at either wide out or running back that run 4.6 or faster that can play football, we’re going to do what we can to give ourselves the best chance to win.”
On defense, La Belle set the tone at linebacker, racking up 102 total tackles (8.5 for a loss) and nine sacks.
Senior Avery Williams (5-11, 160) and Bridenthal will start at cornerback. Senior Max Hayse (5-10, 180) is at linebacker along with Grill and senior Owen Johnson (5-11, 190), who posted 45 total tackles and six sacks last year.
Burhenn (37 total tackles, five interceptions) and senior Travon Hegler (5-10, 188) are at safety.
The defensive line will showcase Herman (33 total tackles, 3.5 sacks) at tackle, Wells (4.0 tackles for loss) at nose tackle and senior Colton Plank (6-0, 210) at the other tackle.
Special team duties fall on Bridenthal at punter and Ethan Yeley, a 6-2, 140-pound sophomore, as the starting place kicker.
“We’re going to go out and put it all out there. They have to earn the job. We did something this year with the Marines. They came and did our workout, and at the end they told our kids, in the Marines nothing is given. Everything is earned, so at different times, appropriately, we’ve discussed that,” Lidy said.
“We tell our kids, we’ll get everybody’s best shot. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. They’ve realized in the past couple of years, you’re going to get the best shot of everybody when you’re the defending conference champion, on paper, and that’s good, but it means nothing because we’re all 0-0.”
The Marauders open the season at home on Friday night against 6A Noblesville. Last season, Mt. Vernon defeated the Millers 42-17.
2021 Mt. Vernon Football Schedule
Date;Opponent;Time
Aug. 20;vs. Noblesville;7 p.m.
Aug. 27;vs. Franklin;7 p.m.
Sept. 3;at Greenfield-Central;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 10;at New Palestine;7 p.m.
Sept. 17;vs. Delta;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 24;vs. Pendleton Heights;7:30 p.m.
Oct. 1;at New Castle;7:30 p.m.
Oct. 8;at Shelbyville;7 p.m.
Oct. 15;vs. Yorktown;7:30 p.m.
