Mount Vernon got off to a quick start at Noblesville Friday as both teams played their season opener at the Millers’ Beaver Materials Field.
The Class 4A No. 5 Marauders scored two touchdowns in an eight-second span to lead 14-0 with 9:20 remaining, and that was the boost that would send Mount Vernon to a 40-17 win over Noblesville. Despite the loss, first-year Millers coach Dave Sharpe said he was “very optimistic” after the game.
“We had all sorts of underclassmen get a lot of valuable time against a really high-quality opponent,” said Sharpe, who noted that the Marauders were clicking on all cylinders: Offensively, defensively and special teams.
The Millers kept things interesting in the first quarter, with Chance Yeager taking the ball in from the three-yard line for Noblesville’s first touchdown of the season. Grayson Addison converted the extra-point attempt, and the score was now 14-7.
But Mount Vernon pulled away in the game’s middle periods, scoring 14 points each in both the second and third quarters to take a 42-7 lead.
“Their execution was very good and our little mistakes were magnified,” said Sharpe. “I’m watching the film right now, and we’re going to find some good things. Our mistakes cost us a lot of field position and points. But our main focus is getting better and fixing those little mistakes, because little mistakes can have drastic consequences. I’m very proud of how hard we played, but obviously there’s a lot of room for improvement.”
Noblesville added 10 more points in the fourth period. Addison made a 36-yard field goal midway through the quarter, then with four seconds left in the game, Andrew Petrulis punched the ball in from the one-yard line, with Addison again making the extra-point kick.
Holden Montarsi was the Millers’ leading rusher, gaining 58 yards in 13 carries. Quarterback Connor Meinerding made 3 of 8 passes for 29 yards, with Chance Yeager catching two passes. Blaine McNabb had a solid defensive night with 7.5 tackles (seven solo and one assist). McNabb and Jacob Hofmann both made one sack and a tackle for a loss, with Mason Bohland and Isaiah Twiehaus also getting one tackle for a loss.
Noblesville plays at Terre Haute South next Friday, and Sharpe is wanting his team to look forward.
“We’ve got some encouraging bright spots,” said Sharpe. “I can’t wait for tomorrow to work with the boys and then have a JV game, and then can’t wait for Monday. We told them it’s ancient history and we can only live for the present and the future. Can’t look back at the past.”
MOUNT VERNON 42, NOBLESVILLE 17
Score by Quarters
Mount Vernon 14 14 14 0 – 42
Noblesville 7 0 0 10 – 17
Team Stats MV NHS
First Downs 14 13
By Rush 3 10
By Pass 10 1
By Penalty 1 2
Rushes-Yards 17-37 52-138
Yards Passing 212 29
Comp-Att-Int-TD 17-24-0-2 3-8-1-0
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-2
Penalties-Yards 4-20 3-20
Punts-Average 3-12.3 4-40.8
Noblesville Scoring
First Quarter
2:59 – Chance Yeager 3-yard run (Grayden Addison kick)
Fourth Quarter
5:52 – Addison 36-yard field goal
0:04 – Andrew Petrulis 1-yard run (Addison kick)
Noblesville individual stats
Rushing: Holden Montarsi 13-58, Owen Jones 4-42, Yeager 11-23, Trey Speek 5-15, Petrulis 3-15, Daveon Bew 3-2, Brayan Goméz Sánchez 3-2, Zach Blevins 2-1, Jordan Sharp 1-0, Connor Meinerding 7-minus 23.
Passing: Meinerding 3-8-29.
Receiving: Yeager 2-14, Dylan Ray 1-15.