By CRAIG ADKINS
It’s enough pressure of getting ready for your first game as head coach, but there’s only one thing that can add to that pressure. That’s coaching your first game against your father in the first game of your head coaching career.
Hamilton Heights head coach Jon Kirschner knew that the pressure would mount as it got closer to the season opener, but he was unsure how things would wind up when it came down to how his team would fare against his father’s new team.
His father, Mike Kirschner, who spent the last 11 seasons as head coach at Ben Davis, found new scenery this off-season that landed him in Fortville. He’s fresh off of winning the 6A state title with the Giants, the second (2014) in his final four years at BD.
Friday night was a different kind of family reunion for the Kirschner family. One they’ll never forget. “#KirschnerBowl2018” was on the front page of the media guide in the press box at Husky Stadium.
“That’s an understatement. I’m serious. I was having troubles when it was 29-0. I know my son and I saw him on the other sideline and I could see him grabbing his head and he wants it to go so well. He worked so hard for this,“ Mount Vernon head coach Mike Kirschner when asked about tonight’s matchup versus his son Jon.
“You know, as happy as I am for these kids over here (Mount Vernon), and they had a rough year last year, things didn’t go well. I feel just as bad for them (Hamilton Heights),” Mike Kirschner continued emotionally following his team’s win.
The pressure was worse on the home sideline as the night went on.
“They’re a well-disciplined, well-coached team and we knew that coming in and we saw it on film and we knew it was gonna be that way,” said Jon Kirschner, first-year head coach of Hamilton Heights, on the pressure of the season opener against his father’s team.
The Marauders started off the game with a quick, methodical drive that lasted eight plays and 59 yards in just 2:34 off the clock that resulted in a Kenny Dobbins three-yard TD run for an early 7-0 MV lead.
Hamilton Heights saw a little magic on their first offensive play of the season. Junior tailback Deshawn King raced 60-yards on the first Husky play from scrimmage all the way down to the Mount Vernon 20. But, Heights couldn’t convert the drive into points as they would turn the ball over on downs on fourth and goal at the Marauder three-yard line, spoiling Kings highlight run.
The Huskies had another chance to tie the game, but senior quarterback Carter Campassi had a pass deflected off his receiver’s hands and right into Cole Schneider of Mount Vernon’s for the first turnover of the night.
Marauder’s quarterback Tyson Harley quickly found Dylan Cole wide open for a 51-yard touchdown pass and with a successful two-point pass, Mount Vernon was now up 15-0.
The ensuing kickoff was fumbled by Heights’ Isaiah Campbell, setting Mount Vernon up for an early second quarter TD by Dylan Cole again, this time rushing from six-yards out for a 22-0 cushion.
It went from bad to worse for the Husky offense on the next drive. Campassi tossed his second interception of the game, this one to Seth Gillen at the Heights 34.
A few plays later, senior backup QB Austin Finke set up in the wildcat formation and scored with ease up the middle for a 15-yard scamper into the end zone to make it 29-0.
Heights put their first points on the board late in the first half on a drive that started on their own nine-yard line.
Campassi led the Huskies down the field, including his big 19-yard run down to the MV 13 that set up the score. The next play, he found Camron Knott on a slant into the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown pass, cutting it to a three score deficit at 29-7 at halftime.
The visiting Marauders would come out of the locker room poised on both sides of the ball.
Forcing the Huskies into a bad situation right away in the second half, Mount Vernon took advantage of a Heights misfortune.
Freshman kicker Michael Lecher, filling in for Camron Knott as punter, mishandled the punt long snap, falling on the ball at his own two-yard line.
Moments later, Tyson Harley waltzed over the goal line untouched for 36-7.
Campassi’s woes continued on the next drive, fumbling at his own 36.
MV would cap off its scoring for the night on the next play when DaRell Jackson reeled in a 36-yard touchdown pass for a count of 43-7.
Hamilton Heights showed its home crowd at Husky Stadium that they wouldn’t go away quietly.
Starting a drive at their own 18, the Huskies ate up a good chunk of the fourth quarter to get their second score.
On the drive, junior tailback Cordell Cowan carried five times for 24 yards, ending the drive with a two-yard touchdown run. Lecher’s second PAT of the night would make for the final score of 43-14.
Turnovers plagued the Huskies all night long. In this game, there were some positives, but they unfortunately did not outweigh the negatives.
“You can’t turn the ball over six times. Two, three interceptions, three fumbles, what are you gonna do, give them the short field?” said Heights Jon Kirschner on his Huskies and the turnover battle.
Kirschner’s reference to the short field stems from Mount Vernon starting seven of their 10 offensive possessions in Heights territory, keeping the Husky ‘D’ on their heels a majority of the night.
“That unfortunately was the story of the game. When you have kids going both ways and your defense is on the field, on the field, on the field, what are you gonna do?” said Kirschner on his defense having to be on the field as much as they were.
Mount Vernon (1-0) starts a three game home stand and will host the Marion Giants (1-0), who were 47-0 winners at home over Huntington North on Friday.
The Marauder offense was led by 13-for-15 passing for 223 yards and two TD’s from Tyson Harley. They also got four rushing touchdowns for a pretty balanced offensive attack and not to mention, forcing seven turnovers.
Hamilton Heights (0-1) hits to road to face North Montgomery (0-1), who lost at North Putnam 28-12 last night.
The Husky offense was highlighted by 18 carries for 139 yards from Deshawn King.
Hamilton Heights players react after Cordell Cowan scores a one-yard running touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Huskies’ game with Mount Vernon on Friday. (Richie Hall)