For Mount Vernon varsity football, 2021 is a year of change and adjustment on both sides of the ball.
Junior quarterback Joel Hubbard will be the Jackets’ chief signal caller, after spelling the now-graduated Britten Long. Hubbard was 11-for-29 in 2020, for a completion percentage of 38.93.
Guard Nate Stradley and tackle Zack Calbert (who played guard in 2020) will anchor the Jackets’ offensive line, along with sophomore center Reece Schonauer. Pitted against Stradley in team practice on a daily basis, the slightly undersized Schonauer has held his own.
“(Schonauer) loves that competitiveness,” head coach Mike Kerr said. “He has really taken ownership on that line, even though he’s just a sophomore. He is a great leader for us.”
Also up front will be guard George Monreal and tackle Joe Reddick.
For every member of the team – especially the line – the recently-built Mount Vernon High School fieldhouse has made a tremendous difference.
“The kids are excited to come in,” Kerr said. “They love it. It’s clean and beautiful. The facility draws people in. Our numbers in the offseason, in the weight room, were staggering. We used to battle to get 25 kids there. This year, we are routinely having well over 50 kids in the weight room.”
The Jackets will also bring back running back/wide receiver Jonny Askew, who rushed for 270 yards, last season.
“We’re going to use Jonny a lot of different ways.” Kerr said. “He’s going to be out at wide receiver.”
Askew, who will also return kicks, will be joined in the backfield by Evan Owens. Expect to see Owens get a good share of carries out of the backfield.
“Evan is more of the power back,” Kerr said. “He’s more the guy who’s going to run through tackles. I think, with he and Jonny splitting reps there, gives us a dynamic, one-two punch. Defenses will have to worry about Evan or Hubbard running the ball, and they’ll have to keep an eye on Jonny to see what he’s doing.”
That might include Owens in a single-back formation with Askew split wide, when that situation can be played to the Jackets’ advantage.
Running back A.J. Keen, who had 934 yards for the Jackets in 2020, graduated last spring. Keen and Long are only two of the players who moved on. Also graduating last spring were WRs Gavin Moyer (27 catches, 380 yards), Easton Groom and Christian Brown.
Even minus last year’s seniors, the Jackets are deep in wide receivers. Aside from Askew, there’s Dylan Dowell (13 receptions, 100 yards), along with Jesse Foster and Rylan Firebaugh. On defense, the versatile Foster will play defensive end, and so will Stradley.
“Nate is really key for us on both sides of the line,” Kerr said. “He made a great improvement on the defensive side, as the season went on, he developed into a trustworthy defensive lineman with some explosiveness. This year, he’s taken that to a whole new level.”
Along with him will be Calbert and Monreal to help front a 4-3 defense.
One of the biggest holes that Kerr had was the one left by now-graduated middle linebacker Ethan Laslo (106 tackles), but he has the answer.
“Losing Ethan was tough,” Kerr said. “He is a great competitor and a great player, but Zach Mullins, who played safety for us last year, has slid down to the middle linebacker spot. He’s done a really great job in the preseason and has shown some natural instincts there. He’s a steady hand, and he’s calm and collected.”
Hubbard and Drew Mundy will play the outside linebacker spots, along with Mack Hanna.
Askew will be at free safety after moving there late last season. At the corners will be Dowell and Firebaugh, who are both lightning fast. Layne Kuhlman and A.J. Fonner can rotate in effectively as corners, giving the Jackets fresh legs.
The Jackets will also bring back Christian Dean from the soccer team to be the team’s place kicker.
