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Strong start propels Mount Vernon to win over Benton Community
Mount Vernon scored the first 23 points and was plenty of a cushion for the rest of the game
Sep. 5, 2025 11:28 pm
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MOUNT VERNON – Hot start and enough to hold at the end.
Mount Vernon scored the first 23 points in the opening 21 minutes and it was plenty of cushion the rest of the way.
Mount Vernon quarterback Kellen Haverback passed for two touchdowns and rushed for one, helping Class 3A top-ranked Mount Vernon defeat No. 9 Benton Community, 30-14, in a high school football game Friday night at Armstrong Field of Martha Parsons Activity Complex. The Mustangs recorded their fourth straight victory over the Bobcats.
“We always want to play fast,” Mount Vernon Coach Brad Meester said. “Our big thing is we're going to play four quarters. We’re just going to keep coming. That is our specialty, but we want to start fast, always.”
Mount Vernon clicked on their first possession. Haverback drove the Mustangs 74 yards on 15 plays, hitting Mikey Ryan on a 16-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.
“I'm really excited how we've started the last two games,” Meester said. “We've been able to move ball, put some points up, it's huge to be able to start a game like that and set the tone right out the gate.”
The Mustangs used a balance attack, throwing eight times and rushing seven on that first drive. Haverback completed four passes for 43 yards.
Just jump on them early and keeping the energy up,” Haverback said. “It's easier to play ahead than it is to play from behind, for sure, so that was really good night.”
The Mustangs increased their fortune quickly. Mount Vernon’s Tommy Rhomberg picked off QB Carson Nolan on the Bobcats’ second offensive play.
“It was huge,” Rhomberg said. “It was awesome to see everyone high intensity and energy, flying around. It was great.”
On the next play, Haverback took to the ground instead of the air. He rushed off right end, looked trapped on the sidelines but juked a defender and rolled 28 yards for a TD and 14-0 lead just 65 seconds after Mount Vernon’s first score.
“Tommy had a great interception and gave us all the momentum we needed,” Haverback said. “We got a QB draw played in and we all the linemen practice and practice to get into the second level and if we get to the second level we can break it. Our receivers blocked all night and that’s what broke open some plays. That was really fun.”
The Mustangs scored on their first three drives, adding a 36-yard field goal from Jack Carnes for a 17-0 lead.
Even their only punt of the first paid dividends. The Mustangs pinned the Bobcats inside their own 10 and forced a 3-and-out. Benton’s punt was shanked, giving the Mustangs the ball at the Bobcats 22.
Haverback connected on his second scoring pass of the game, hitting Rhomberg on a fade to the back shoulder for an 8-yard TD and increasing the lead to 23-0.
“He works so hard in practice,” Haverback said. “I trust him. He wants to be so good. We work every day after practice and he wants to be better.”
Haverback finished with another strong performance, following his 366-yard showing in Week 1. Haverback amassed 146 offensive yards, including 88 passing. Rhomberg caught four passes for 58 yards.
“He’s always been super talented, strong arm,” Meester said of Haverback. “I love to see his growth over the last year and his leadership skills. He has a knack for seeing things. He’ll come to the sideline and talk with the staff about what he likes and what he’s seeing. There are things in the field that he sees and adjusts himself.
“He’s able to make things happen with his arm. He made some big runs. There’s no way to measure his leadership. He’s done an unbelievable job, leading this whole group.”
Benton Community found the end zone late in the second quarter. The Bobcats covered 73 yards in 13 plays, melting 3:09 off the clock. Elias Bieschke punched it in from 1 yard, making it 23-6 with five seconds left before half.
Jakob Yock added a 3-yard TD run about midway through the fourth for Mount Vernon.
Nolan finished with 245 passing yards, including fourth-quarter scoring strikes to Eli Patterson Brody Timmerman. The first was a 48-yard score to Patterson. Nolan hit Timmerman for a 37-yard TD in the final minutes. Patterson had six catches for 114 yards.
“They are talented,” Meester said. “Benton is really good. They’ve always been really good. They have some talented skill guys. Our defense did a phenomenal job all night.”
Comments: k.j.pilcher@thegazette.com
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