MOUNT VERNON — The Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets proved they were not to be taken lightly on Friday night. Unfortunately, that didn’t translate to a Homecoming victory.

Playing one of their best games of the season, the Yellow Jackets gave the Worthington Kilbourne Wolves all they wanted and then some. Three second-half turnovers, including a fumble that was recovered in the end zone, gave the Wolves enough to hold off Mount Vernon, 29-22.

“(This is the team I expected to see); it really is,” said Mount Vernon coach Gary Keller. “We’ve had to go through some adversity with the injuries, but I thought tonight, our team was back and we were the kind of football team I am proud of. In terms of our effort and the way the kids responded by coming back at different times, this was a great night. We were trading punches all the way through. We were right there at the end of the game.

The game was one of field position right from the start. Kilbourne (3-2) fumbled the ball on its opening possession, and Mount Vernon’s (1-5) Ethan Grant recovered at the 18-yard line. That recovery led to Mount Vernon’s first score — a 10-yard TD pass from Shawn Maxwell to Robert Kane. Maxwell, who was thrust into action last week after just one day of varsity practice, had a much better outing this time around. He finished 11-of-23 for 113 yards, an interception and two touchdowns.

“That was a great way to start,” Keller said. “I just felt our kids grew up a little bit tonight in terms of the way they played. We challenged them and they responded in a very positive way.”

The Wolves answered with an 80-yard drive on their next possession. The drive was capped off with a 28-yard scoring run by Sheldon Tillman, who had 19 carries for 140 yards on the night. The extra point attempt failed, leaving Mount Vernon ahead, 7-6.

Mount Vernon went 4-and-out on its next possession and Kilbourne took over with 6:36 to go in the first quarter. Keeping the ball on the ground, the Wolves are up the clock with a 16-play, 7:08 drive, spanning 62 yards. Tillman took the ball in from 11 yards out to put Kilbourne ahead just 32 seconds into the second quarter. The conversion attempt failed, making it a 12-7 game.

The Jackets answered on their next drive as Maxwell hooked up with Kane from 14 yards out for the score. Nick Sahr, who was playing his first game in five weeks due to an injury, made the extra point to give the Jackets a 14-12 lead with 6:28 to go. That was more than enough for the Wolves, though, as they moved the ball into field goal range before the half ended. Max Walters kicked a 29-yard shot with 1:16 left to send his team into the locker room with a one-point advantage.

“I feel like our kids took a step up tonight. I thought our quarterback took a step up tonight,” Keller said. “Last week was his first time under fire. This week, I thought he played with a lot more poise. I think our offense, if we can continue to improve, will make us better. We are taking baby steps; we are coming along. I expect us to play like this every week. I think our kids saw what they can do. I don’t think they will back track again.”

Kilbourne added to its lead early in the third quarter after a muffed Mount Vernon punt return gave it the ball back at the 17-yard line. Tillman scored his third touchdown of the night from 1 yard out, and Walters’ kick made it a 22-14 game.

Maxwell, who was playing well, had a pass intercepted by Kilbourne’s Will Campbell to end the next drive, but the Jacket defense came up big when it stopped the Wolves on a fourth-and-13 play from the 21. That didn’t exactly help Mount Vernon, however. It was pinned inside its own 20 as the third quarter ended, and a false start penalty moved the ball back to the seven to start the final quarter. A bad snap put the ball on the ground on a third-and-17 play, and after it bounced around, Kilbourne’s Brian Skura recovered it in the end zone for another Wolves’ score. Walters kick made it 29-14 with 11:48 to go.

“There is no question; we have to work on our turnover ratio,” said Keller. “We just can’t make those kind of mistakes and lay the football on the ground. We’ve got to work more on ball security.”

Mount Vernon continued to battle despite being down by two scores. And after going three-and-out, it got the break it needed. Kilbourne fumbled the punt return and Alex Lambert recovered for the Jackets.

With new life, Mount Vernon moved the ball 22 yards before the drive stalled. A fourth-and 19 pass from Maxwell to Jordan Williamson came up about 5 yards short and returned the ball to Kilbourne. The Jackets held the Wolves and forced them to punt he ball away. Ethan Abell fielded the punt and, with some great blocks, returned it 54 yards for the touchdown. Keller went for two, and got it when Maxwell scampered into the end zone on the conversion.

Kilbourne then put together an 11-play drive that, while it did not end in points on the scoreboard, ate almost four minutes off the clock. Mount Vernon took four shots down the field on its final possession, but came up empty.

“I was thinking, ‘We can win this ballgame,’” said Keller. “With the way we were playing at that point ant time, I felt very good. I felt like we were ready. It is a tough situation in terms of losing. We are a competitive football team, but trying to get that W is hard. I really believe, though, if we continue to work hard and play in this same manner, good things are going to happen for this squad.”

Williamson had a solid outing, picking up 71 yards on 14 carries for the Jackets. Kane had four catches for 44 yards, and Abell had four grabs for 35 yards.

The Jackets will hit the road next week as they travel to Hilliard Bradley to face the first-year Jaguars on Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

KIRKHART HONORED: Former Mount Vernon coach Roger “Buzz” Kirkhart was onhand as an honorary captain this week. Prior to the game, Kirkhart addressed the team at a meal on Thursday, and gave them some words of encouragement. He was then recognized at the game and watched from the sidelines.

During the team dinner, Kirkhart quickly captured the players’ attention by talking about the meaning of faith and team, saying, “Faith is belief without evidence. You have to go out on the field and have faith in your teammates; have faith in your coaches. Go out and expect to win.”

He closed his inspiring and motivating talk by saying, “Football may not be the greatest thing you ever do ... but it will be the greatest thing you ever do together.”