By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Gavin Johnston held Jarrett Zerby to his word.
After Zerby couldn’t haul in a surefire, walk-in touchdown late in the first half of Friday night’s district title game against Strafford, the Mt. Vernon receiver assured his quarterback there would be no more drops.
“Before halftime, he told me, ‘I’m not going to drop it again. Throw it to me again,’ I was like, ‘Ok, but I don’t want to see any more drops,’” Johnston said. “It worked out.”
Johnston’s loyalty certainly paid off. Zerby caught the go-ahead touchdown with 2:38 remaining as Mt. Vernon capped a fourth-quarter rally to defeat Strafford 28-21 in the Class 3 District 5 championship game.
The Mountaineers’ defense set up the dramatic score. Hudson Gaddy intercepted a Strafford pass and made a long return to the Indians’ 35 yardline.
Zerby, who caught four passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns on the night, was wide open in the corner of the endzone three plays later.
“I knew their safety runs hard, but (Zerby) is pretty quick he just ran by him and I knew he was going to be there,” Johnston said. “I can just trust him to be there.”
Mt. Vernon’s defense stepped up again on the final drive, forcing a turnover on downs after a Strafford Hail Mary on 4th and long was incomplete. Strafford, which opened the game with three straight touchdowns, didn’t score in the second half.
Friday night’s victory gives Mt. Vernon its first district title since 2018.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
“Dream come true,” said Mt. Vernon senior linebacker Lane Konrad. “We had lost in the district finals (two) years in a row before tonight. To finally win it, it feels great.”
Said Mt. Vernon coach Tom Cox: “It’s just a testament to the (players’) grit and determination. And really to their ability as well.”
Mt. Vernon (9-3 overall) hosts Big 8 foe Seneca (11-0 overall) at 1 p.m. next Saturday, Nov. 23 in the Class 3 quarterfinal round.
The Indians have won the last three meetings against the Mountaineers, including a pair of district title games (2022, 2023). Seneca also beat Mt. Vernon 35-14 in Week 2 earlier this season.
After losing its final two games of the regular season, Mt. Vernon used the fresh start of districts to reinvigorate itself.
On their way to a district title, the Mountaineers played three schools (Buffalo, Mountain Grove, Strafford) they’ve rarely played – if ever.
“We wanted to show them what Big 8 football was, and what Mt. Vernon football was about,” Johnston said.
Johnston, a true gunslinger, was 16-for-30 for 225 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions on the night. Three Mountaineers had 30 or more receiving yards.
“Gavin, just being objective, was really up and really down,” Cox said. “He made some great plays and found (Braden) Dodson on some key dump-off passes. I think that was the key to keeping some of those second-half drives alive.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE GAME
“We’ve had problems at times with throwing interceptions. Gavin has a big arm and he thinks he can get it in there. A lot of times, he does. A few times, he doesn’t.”
Early on Friday night, Strafford seemed ready to run Mt. Vernon off the field.
Strafford senior quarterback Jourdyn Edelstein, who tallied over 300 total yards from scrimmage, had a pair of touchdown runs to put the Indians ahead 21-6 early in the second quarter.
“We were playing uncharacteristically,” Konrad said. “We had to change our assignments. We had to start playing physical and play downhill. We were playing on our heels in the first half, so we had to get up and punch (Strafford) in the mouth.”
The Mountaineers cut the deficit to 21-14 by halftime. They ended the first half by blocking Strafford’s 35-yard field goal attempt.
After a scoreless third quarter, Mt. Vernon would tie the game on Braden Dodson’s 4-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.
Dodson finished with 140 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. He also caught three passes for 50 yards.
“That kid is just amazing,” Cox said. “He refuses to go down.”
Strafford’s three drives in the fourth quarter resulted in a lost fumble, an interception and a turnover on downs. The Indians (9-2 overall) were seeking to win the program’s first district title since 2014.
Bradlee Mullins finished with a game-high 184 receiving yards on 13 catches for the Indians.
“This group of seniors never wanted to give up or give in the entire season,” said Strafford coach Tim Hester. “It showed in this game. They were fighting the whole time. We just made some mistakes that we couldn’t afford.
“I really thought our boys were going to do it at the end – drive down and score to win the game.”
Mt. Vernon 28, Strafford 21
Mt. Vernon 6 8 0 14 — 28
Strafford 14 7 0 0 — 21
First quarter
Strafford – Edelstein 25 run (Voysey kick)
Strafford – Ross 9 run (Voysey kick)
Mt. Vernon – Dodson 1 run (kick failed)
Second quarter
Strafford – Edelstein 1 run (Voysey kick)
Mt. Vernon – Zerby 41 catch from Johnston (Zerby catch)
Fourth quarter
Mt. Vernon – Dodson 4 run (Dawson kick)
Mt. Vernon – Zerby 23 catch from Johnston (Dawson kick)
STAT LEADERS (unofficial)
Mt. Vernon passing: Johnston 16/30, 225 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs
Strafford passing: Edelstein 18/27, 233 yards, 1 INT
Mt. Vernon rushing: Dodson 22/140, 2 TDs
Strafford rushing: Edelstein 17/86, 2 TDs; Ross 20/76, 1 TD
Mt. Vernon receiving: Zerby 4/116, 2 TDs; Dodson 3/50; Felton 3/30
Strafford receiving: Mullins 13/184; Voysey 4/47
Mt. Vernon defense: 2 sacks; Gaddy 1 INT
Strafford defense: 3 sacks; Frerking 2 INTs
