Miami Valley crushes Militia in rough outing

MOUNT VERNON — What a difference a week makes.

Last week, the Mount Vernon Militia rallied but fell just short of achieving their first victory. However, the team came away feeling confident that things were looking good for the future.

On Saturday, the Militia were beaten, stomped and run over. They suffered injuries. They squabbled amongst themselves. And they looked like a disorganized expansion team.

And it cost them a coach.

Defensive coordinator Patrick Quinn was asked to resign soon after the Militia lost, 53-7, to the Miami Valley Saints at home.

Quinn had filled in for head coach Lee Dugas, who was out of town Saturday for a family commitment. In a statement to the News, Dugas said, “The Mount Vernon Militia has been about teamwork, family and being positive. Win or lose, it is about caring for one another. Unfortunately (Saturday) the team and Patrick had some disagreements. ... Trust had been broken and the team needs to know that their coaching staff if consistent and supportive.”

During the game, the team frequently took the field with fewer than 11 players (on one kickoff, there were just eight players until a lineman ran onto the field just before the kick). Players looked confused before and during some plays as they tried to figure out Miami Valley’s scheme.

It didn’t help that the Saints (2-0) were the defending Class AA national champions in semipro football, with at least two players as members of Arena Football League practice squads.

Throughout the game, Militia team members hollered rallying cries at each other. In the fourth quarter, with the Militia hopelessly behind, those cries became finger-pointing. At one point, lineman Josh Johnson, who was out with an injury but doing as much as anyone to coach the team up, and wide receiver Brendan Jefferson had a confrontation. Coach Quinn finally had to pull Jefferson aside by the collar, which nearly brought them to blows.

Cooler heads prevailed, but only because the clock ran out.

In response, Quinn released a statement to the News that read:

“I have not ever had to deal with something like this in football before. I have always worked to have a good running ship. One where attitudes are not so much of a problem. ... You always listen to the coach, and do as he has instructed without backtalk.”

Mount Vernon’s lone touchdown came late in the second quarter, when quarterback Curtis Osborne found Trent Creager on a post pattern. Creager broke away and scored from 42 yards.

For the rest of the game, Mount Vernon managed minus-12 total yards.

Miami Valley’s defensive line was bigger than Mount Vernon’s offensive line by an average of 55 pounds per man. The result was that Osborne, who took the starting spot after A.J. Johnston was dismissed from the team, was harassed throughout the game. Osborne was consequently forced to attempt all but two of his passes from outside the pocket.