Mount Vernon loses a thriller to Buckeye Valley, 29-21
The Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets were tied with the Buckeye Valley Barons on Friday evening at BV’s new turf grid until the Barons scored with 1:12 left, sending the Jackets to a heartbreaking 29-21 loss to fall to 1-2 in 2021, with conference play set to begin Friday.
With a fan-base cheering and new-field energy, Buckeye Valley (2-1) took the lead with 28 seconds left in the first quarter on a 3-yard run by Jake Smothers. Mount Vernon tied it two minutes into the second frame on a 12-yard sprint by running back Evan Owens.
Buckeye Valley took a 14-7 lead into the locker-room at the half on a score with 50 seconds left, but the Yellow Jackets struck gold just 4 minutes into the second half on a 2-yard dive by Joel Hubbard.
The third quarter ended 14-14, before last-quarter heroics ended the nail-biter. After a goal-line stand by the Yellow Jackets’ defense and a missed field goal by the Barons to start the fourth quarter, the Jackets assumed control, then turned the ball over on downs, leading to a Buckeye Valley drive that ended with a 13-yard score by BV’s QB Gabe Gregg with only 3:46 left in the game.
Mount Vernon answered the late-game challenge, needing less than a minute to tie the game at 21-21. A three-play drive culminated with a 60-yard tackle-breaking, broken-field sprint by sophomore running back Jonny Askew across the goal line. Layne Kuhlman’s PAT knotted the score with only 2:57 remaining. However, with the crowd behind them, the host Barons went 53 yards in only six plays, as Gregg scored on a one-yard plunge on a third-and-goal run to take the lead with 1:12 left. A two-point conversion put the final score at 29-21.
The Jackets moved the ball to the Barons' 32 in the final minute, but two end-zone throws were incomplete, and the tough loss was in the books.
Mount Vernon hosts Lexington at home Friday at 7 p.m. as conference play begins.
East Knox falls from unbeaten ranks in loss to Cougars, 41-21
Following a one-day postponement, the East Knox Bulldogs met the Crestview High Cougars varsity football team at Ashland High School Community Stadium. The one-day layoff benefitted the Cougars, who dominated the 'Dogs for a 41-21 victory. The result moved Crestview to 3-0, while East Knox dropped to 2-1.
Crestview jumped into the lead midway through the first quarter with an 8-yard TD run by running back Connor Morse, who also scored from two yards out with 1:47 left in the first. Down 21-0, the Bulldogs struck pay dirt when Cole Delaughder went in from the one for a TD with 4:58 left in the half. The first half ended at 27-7, but East Knox closed the gap to 27-14 when Payton Lester completed a 13-yard pass to Shane Knepp for a TD and Will Jensen converted his second PAT with 7:37 left in the third.
Down 41-14 in the fourth, Knox scored the final TD with 5:40 left on a two-yard run by Delaughder and a Jensen conversion.
In defeat, there were stellar performances for the Bulldogs. The East Knox squad ran 55 plays for 175 yards and controlled the ball for 24 minutes and 53 seconds. Though they were outgained and outscored by Crestview, who earned 299 yards on offense, the Cougars managed 14 first downs and were 5-14 on third-down conversions.
The offense was led by quarterback Lester, who completed 11-22 for 83 yards and a touchdown; running back Delaughder, who carried 22 times for 63 yards and 2 TDs; and wide receiver Shane Knepp, who caught four passes for 28 yards. Knepp at strong safety also led the defense with 7.5 tackles and three solo tackles, and Blake Elliott finished with seven tackles, two solo.
East Knox starts conference play at home on Friday vs. Centerberg at 7 p.m.
