By Derek Shore (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
MT. VERNON — Quarterback Gavin Johnston and running back Braden Dodson have shared a backfield together since third grade.
So, as you’d expect, knowing each other’s games comes second nature to Mt. Vernon’s star-studded duo.
“We have a lot of trust in each other,” Dodson said. “I can trust him with anything.”
Johnston and Dodson tallied three touchdowns apiece as Mt. Vernon (2-0) started fast and never looked back in a 42-7 triumph over Monett on Thursday night at Mountaineer Stadium.
“We have built that bond over the years,” Johnston added. “Now we just gotta keep it rolling.”
The dynamic duo lived up to their billing of being two of the best in the Ozarks at their respective positions. Johnston completed 14 of 21 passes for 246 yards while Dodson had 90 yards on the ground in 15 carries and hauled in two passes for 51 yards.
And they are just juniors.
“It’s great. Braden has had such a great career already,” Mt. Vernon coach Tom Cox said. “He rushed for 960 yards as a freshman. He’s just gotten better and better. He is unassuming and plays hard. Gavin has really improved his throwing, his accuracy. We have a really good group of receivers that can catch the ball as well. Our offensive line is getting better and better every week. It’s a good combination offensively right now for us.”
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The Mountaineers dominant first half set the tone of the whole game.
Mt. Vernon jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. After a Monett three-and-out and punt to open the game, Ryder Dampf put the Mountaineers in prime field position thanks to a 32-yard return as Mt. Vernon’s offense started at the Cubs 39-yard line.
The Mountaineers quickly cashed in. Johnston connected with Jake Leeper for a 27-yard pass on fourth-and-8 from the Monett 35 to set up an 8-yard touchdown strike to Braxton Horton at the 8:25 mark.
Then three minutes later, following another Cub three-and-out, Johnson found Horton for a 14-yard TD pass on the ensuing drive.
And the rout was on in the second quarter.
Dodson powered in short TD runs of 4 and 3 yards before Johnson fired a 12-yard TD pass to Leeper with 58 seconds to play, giving Mt. Vernon a 35-0 halftime advantage.
The Mountaineers accumulated 330 yards of total offense in the first half alone (220 pass and 110 rush).
Mt. Vernon’s defense was equally as good, limiting the Cubs to 57 yards of total offense and only two first downs in the first half.
“We had a short week to prepare coming off a really tough game against McDonald County,” Cox said. “We wanted to strike early. We thought we could throw the ball. Our game plan was to get after them early. We knew Reeds Spring threw deep on them. We didn’t throw deep too much, but we were able to hit our RPO stuff with the run game and the quick routes. I was proud of our effort. Defensively, we played well. They hung 28 (points) on Reeds Spring last week, so I was definitely nervous about that.
“Coach (Chris) Johnston did a good job of preparing the guys. We did a lot of extra work with their unconventional type offense. They can pound it inside. They can go off tackle and get outside. It’s a lot of different looks, whether under or in the gun. It was a good job by our defense. That always helps our offense.”
With a running clock in the second half, Dodson put the finishing touches on the win with a 2-yard plunge to extend the Mountaineers lead out to 42-0 with 6:39 to play in the third quarter.
Monett’s Landyn Brandt accounted for the team’s lone score, a 4-yard TD run with 3:33 remaining in the game.
Also for Mt. Vernon, Leeper had five catches for 117 yards. Dampf caught two passes for 35 yards, while Horton had three catches for 30 yards.
Monett (0-2) quarterback Collin Umfleet completed 2 of 9 passes for 23 yards and was picked off twice. He was limited to 13 yards rushing in seven attempts.
Diego Baiden rushed for 32 yards on nine carries to lead the Cubs ground game. Mt. Vernon hosts Aurora in Week 3 while Monett entertains Lamar.
Coming off a district runner-up finish a year ago, the Mountaineers are highly motivated this fall.
“We have a chip on our shoulder this year,” Johnston said. “We couldn’t finish last year. Our word this year is finish. Coach Cox wants us to finish games, finish a class assignment and finish the season. We want to get one step further than last year and hopefully get further than that.”
How far exactly?
“If we keep working hard, hopefully we’ll go to state,” Dodson said.
