Mustangs top WWSSC on final play

MOUNT VERNON — Jared Long hit Deric Denning on a 3-yard scoring pass with time running out and then hit Marcus Anderson for the two-point conversion to give Mount Vernon a 14-12 come-from-behind win over Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central Friday.

According to Mustangs coach Brent Olson, a little bit of deception was used on the scoring pass and the two-point conversion.

“We wanted (WWSSC) to think run because that’s what we usually do when Jared is at quarterback and then our senior said he wanted the ball, and when your senior asks for the ball on homecoming, you give it to him,” Olson said. “The two-point try was pretty much the same play, but giving Jared the run-pass option.”

Mount Vernon took the opening kickoff and drove 71 yards to take a 6-0 lead.

Facing a third down and 28 yards to go for a first down, Denning hit Cote Hinker from 32 yards out.

The Mustangs lead was short-lived as the Blackhawks responded with a 73-yard drive of their own, capped with a one-yard scoring plunge from senior running back Trevor Easton. The two-point conversion failed and the contest was tied at 6.

The defenses then took over the contest until halfway through the second quarter. WWSSC partially blocked a Mount Vernon punt and took over at its own 38-yard line.

The Blackhawks overcame penalties and a fumble to drive to the Mustang 14-yard line, where on a third down and 12 yards for a first down, WWSSC quarterback Todd Stekl hit Easton on a screen pass, who then scampered into the end zone and a 12-6 Blackhawk lead.

The game remained scoreless, setting up the late-game comeback.

“It was a gutsy performance by the defense,” Olson said. “Coach (Myron) Steffen has been working his tail off getting the kids ready for the game. They sure helped the offense out tonight.”

It was a tough loss for the Blackhawks, said their coach, Jason Kolousek.

“Our kids are disappointed, but I told them that they played hard and when you play hard, that’s all we can ask of you,” said Kolousek. “Both teams have talent and it came down to end and we had a chance to win, but they made a play. It wasn’t just the last play; it was plays from even the first quarter that were made or not made, and we might not have been in that position.”

The Mustangs rushed for 115 yards and passed for 131 yards for 246 total yards.

Denning was 5-for-9 for 122 yards passing and Hinker rushed 11 times for 53 yards.

Hinker led the Mount Vernon defense with 12 tackles with Denning and Brian Vermeulen each making nine tackles.

The Mustangs (1-2) will travel to Ethan Friday to take on Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan.

WWSSC had 99 yards rushing and 187 yards passing for 286 total yards

Stekl was 6-of-12 for 187 yards passing and Tyler Krueger had 11 rushes for 68 yards.

The Blackhawk defense was led by Jacob Fouberg with 12 tackles and Austin Messmer with 11 tackles.

WWSSC (0-3) will take on Highmore-Harrold Friday in Woonsocket.

First quarter

MV:Cote Hinker 32 pass from Deric Denning. Run failed.

WWSSC:Trevor Easton 1 run. Run failed.

Second quarter

WWSSC:Easton 14 pass from Todd Stekl. Pass fail.

Fourth quarter

MV:Denning 3 pass from Jared Long. Anderson pass from Long.

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