Mount Vernon At North Posey Game Recap 10-16-26

Mount Vernon At North Posey Game Recap 10-16-26

North Posey and Mount Vernon combined for 82 points in Friday night's regular-season football finale, with the Vikings pulling away from a competitive first quarter to defeat the Wildcats 56-26 at North Posey High School.

The victory returned the Posey County Cup to North Posey and capped an 8-1 regular season for the Vikings, ranked tenth in Class 2A. Mount Vernon finished the regular season at 2-7.

The annual rivalry matchup featured plenty of offense from both teams, particularly in a wild opening quarter that saw the Vikings take a narrow 21-20 lead.

Mount Vernon senior running back Eastin Hall provided much of the Wildcats' offensive production, scoring three first-half rushing touchdowns and repeatedly finding success against the North Posey defense. Hall finished with approximately 160 to 170 rushing yards, according to unofficial statistics from the two broadcast crews.

North Posey answered with an explosive offensive performance of its own, led by senior running back Cade Mauck, who rushed for 221 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries. Mauck also caught a pass for 20 yards and returned a kickoff for a touchdown, giving him four scores on the night.

The Vikings' kickoff return proved to be one of several big plays that helped shift momentum in North Posey's favor.

Despite the one-point margin after the opening quarter, North Posey began to separate itself in the second period. The Vikings outscored Mount Vernon 21-0 in the quarter, turning their 21-20 advantage into a 42-20 halftime lead.

North Posey's balanced attack continued to create problems for the Wildcats, with senior quarterback Carter Schickel completing 10 of 15 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns.

Sophomore Camden Clowers was another major contributor, catching five passes for 67 yards and a touchdown while adding 20 rushing yards and two touchdowns on three carries.

Junior Bret Buecher also played a significant role in the passing game, finishing with four receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown. Buecher added 19 rushing yards on two carries.

North Posey carried its offensive momentum into the second half.

The Vikings received the opening kickoff of the third quarter and drove for another touchdown, with Clowers scoring on a short run with 9:24 remaining. Senior kicker Ethan Ashby added the extra point to extend the lead to 49-20.

Later in the quarter, Schickel connected with Clowers on a five-yard touchdown pass. Ashby's successful extra point pushed North Posey's advantage to 56-20 with 4:30 remaining in the third quarter, putting the game under a running clock.

Mount Vernon continued battling and added the game's final touchdown late in the third quarter.

Hall broke loose for another gain before fumbling near the North Posey goal line. Sophomore Brycen Riggan recovered the loose football and carried it into the end zone for a Wildcats touchdown with two seconds remaining in the quarter.

The score brought Mount Vernon within 56-26, which stood as the final margin.

Unofficial statistics from the North Posey broadcast credited the Vikings with 419 yards of total offense, including 259 rushing and 160 passing. Mount Vernon finished with approximately 260 yards of offense, including 190 on the ground.

For the Wildcats, senior quarterback Johnathon Crowe completed four passes, with senior Cael Collins recording three receptions for 38 yards and sophomore Klayton Hamilton adding a 30-yard reception.

While North Posey's offense produced eight touchdowns, Mount Vernon demonstrated its ability to move the football, particularly during the first half behind Hall's running.

Penalties were also a factor throughout the contest. The North Posey broadcast crew recorded 19 combined penalties, including 13 against the Vikings for 125 yards, although those totals remain unofficial.

The victory gives North Posey possession of the Posey County Cup and sends the Vikings into postseason play with momentum following an eight-win regular season.

Both teams now turn their attention to the Indiana High School Athletic Association state tournament.

North Posey will host Perry Central, which finished the regular season 2-7, in the opening round of Class 2A Sectional 40 next Friday. The Vikings will look to build on their regular-season success as they pursue their first sectional championship since 2023.

Mount Vernon will travel to Corydon Central for its opening-round postseason matchup. Both teams enter the tournament with 2-7 records, giving the Wildcats an opportunity to begin a new chapter after a challenging regular season.

Friday's game marked the end of the regular season for both Posey County programs, with North Posey celebrating a rivalry victory and Mount Vernon looking to carry the offensive positives from its performance into the postseason.

Mount Vernon Game Audio Archive:

North Posey Game Audio Archive: