MANSFIELD — Mount Vernon fans who made the trip to Mansfield to watch the Yellow Jackets play Madison on Friday may have seen the best half of football the team played in years. The Jackets (1-2) ran wild, piling up 313 yards on the ground for the game in winning their first game of the season, 41-13.
Leevi Stump scored three touchdowns in the first half, which saw Mount Vernon take a 41-0 lead. Stump began the game with a 49-yard run in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead, and came back later in the quarter for a 79-yard scamper which put the Jackets up 13-0.
Quarterback Kody Green contributed a touchdown in the second quarter, keeping the ball and rushing 28 yards for a 19-0 lead. The defense, which held the Rams (0-3) to only 145 total yards for the game, also got into the scoring act. John Fernandez broke through the Madison line to block a punt, and Derek Baker picked it up and rambled 12 yards for another score and a 25-0 advantage. Stump added yet another long TD run, this one of 66 yards, and Justin Edwards’ two-point conversion run left Mount Vernon up, 33-0. But the Jackets had one more score left, and Edwards punched in from 1 yard out. Kolton Wilson’s conversion reception left Mount Vernon up 41-0.
The defense took care of the rest of the game, holding Madison scoreless until the fourth quarter. Cody Thompson and Cory Homikel each had 1-yard touchdown runs against the Jacket defensive reserves.
Stump had only six rushes for the game, but gained 197 yards and three touchdowns. Green completed 5-of-9 passes for 71 yards, with Ethan Abell making one reception for 36 yards. On defense, Wilson had 10 tackles, Dane Cullen made a sack and Bradley Fenton and Ethan Grant each picked off a pass.
Mount Vernon will begin Ohio Capital Conference Capital Division play Friday at Olentangy Orange. The Yellow Jackets beat the Pioneers last year in Mount Vernon. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. in Lewis Center.