Coy Felton didn’t quite run 900 yards on one play, but the senior two-way player was plenty active all night.
Felton accounted for all three touchdowns – including a one-handed pick-six in the first quarter – in Mt. Vernon’s 21-7 victory at Class 5 Parkview on Friday night.
On offense, Felton had seven catches for 127 yards and a pair of touchdowns. On defense, he set the tone early for Mt. Vernon’s dominant defense by improvising on his assigned blitz call and jumping a pass to the flats.
Felton hauled in the interception with his left hand, then huffed-and-puffed his way to a 67-yard touchdown.
“I loved it but hated it at the same time. I felt like I was running for 900 yards,” Felton said of the interception return. “I was exhausted.”
It was the start of an epic night for Felton, who also caught a 45-yard bomb from quarterback Hunter Dawson late in the first half that gave the Mountaineers a 14-7 lead at halftime.
“We were expecting something to be open on the right side, but I knew (Felton) would beat his defender deep,” Dawson said of the play. “That’s always a safety option, with Coy.
“Knowing if I could get enough air under it, Coy’s one of those guys who can just run under it and get there.”
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As the play developed, Felton got behind the Parkview secondary and threw up the hand signal to his quarterback.
“I told (Dawson) to look at me on the skinny post, and he looked. I wasn’t his first read, but he saw me deep and I put my hand up. He trusted me to make a play, and he threw an amazing pass,” Felton said.
That was sufficient support for Mt. Vernon’s defense, which shut down a Parkview team coming off a surprise win over Branson two weeks ago.
The Mountaineers logged four interceptions and held Parkview (2-5 overall) to about 60 rushing yards.
“We had a great gameplan from our coaches and we really executed it well,” Dawson said. “All 11 players got to the ball, that really helped, and we tackled low and wrapped up.”
Felton, Dawson and running back Hunter Conway are three of the team’s ironmen who play as two-way starters on offense and defense.
“I don’t know how they do it. They all play their hearts out,” said Mt. Vernon coach Tom Cox. “We try to get them a little rest when we can.”
Felton provided an insurance score with a 7-yard touchdown grab late in the third quarter. He out-jumped a Parkview defender in the corner of the endzone on a fade.
“(Felton) can go up and get it,” Cox said. “He’s one of the best 50-50 ball guys I’ve seen, and we’ve had some good ones at Mt. Vernon.
“Very proud of Coy. He’s worked hard to get where he’s at.”
Dawson finished an efficient 13-for-16 for 176 yards and the two passing touchdowns. Conway added 88 yards on the ground.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE GAME
The Mountaineers, who only returned five players with varsity experience from last year’s district title team, have won three of their last four outings to improve to 3-4 overall.
“We had a lot of new guys,” Cox said of the 0-3 start. “Early on, we were trying to get everybody in there and get ready for the season as they go. We weren’t quite there yet.”
The Mountaineers finish the regular season with home games against a pair of Class 4 schools from the Big 8: state-ranked Nevada and Monett.
Friday’s win should give Mt. Vernon a boost in the Class 3 District 6 seeding race. The Mountaineers were fifth among the seven schools this week.
For now, they’ll savor victory and enjoy a premier local event.
“We gave them (Saturday) off,” Cox said. “Can’t miss Apple Butter Makin’ Days. We don’t have school on Monday, so we’ll be able to catch up on film then.”
Mt. Vernon 21, Parkview 7
Mt. Vernon 7 7 7 0 — 21
Parkview 0 7 0 0 — 7
First quarter
Mt. Vernon – Felton 67 interception return (Popa kick)
Second quarter
Parkview – Davis 29 catch from Otto (Grube kick)
Mt. Vernon – Felton 45 catch from Dawson (Popa kick)
Third quarter
Mt. Vernon – Felton 7 catch from Dawson (Popa kick)
Mt. Vernon stat leaders (unofficial)
Passing: Dawson 13-for-16, 176 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing: Conway 27/88
Receiving: Felton 7/127, 2 TDs; Conway 1/30
Parkview stat leaders (unofficial)
Passing: Otto 23-for-38, 220 yards, 1 TD
Rushing: Highley 12/38
Receiving: Davis 7/70, 1 TD; Hampton 7/46; Highley 2/42; Dickerson 4/25
Turnovers: Parkview 4, Mt. Vernon 0
