The Mount Vernon Tigers closed out the regular season with a 42-14 loss to the Malakoff Tigers in Malakoff on Friday night.
Malakoff entered the contest as the second-highest-ranked team in 3A Division 1 in some polls and held a 9-0 record.
In the first quarter, Malakoff proved its ranking as a powerhouse program by dominating the scoreboard 14-0. However, Mount Vernon battled back with a 12-play drive capped off by a touchdown pass from Junior Jackson Grey to Sophomore Jobe Law. Senior Brayden Fountain converted the 2-point attempt, and Malakoff’s lead was cut to 14-8.
"Felt like we definitely showed flashes in the first half that when we do our jobs, and we play our brand of football, we can compete with teams of their caliber,” said Mount Vernon head coach and athletic director Travis McClain after the game. “It was definitely an opportunity to get a real good measuring stick of ourselves going into the playoffs.”
Malakoff added seven more points on the ensuing drive. Mount Vernon put together another solid drive with 11 plays ending with a Fountain 1-yard touchdown. Mount Vernon was unable to convert on the 2-point try but had trimmed the Malakoff lead to 21-14.
Malakoff took control of the game in the back half of the second quarter, adding two more touchdowns before the break to set the score at 35-14 at the break.
Both Tiger squads struggled to do much offensively in the second half. Malakoff found the end zone with the first possession of the second half, and that would be the last score of the game.
Mount Vernon finished the regular season with a 6-4 record in Coach McClain’s second season. He is proud of the effort he has seen from his team throughout, especially the seniors. "We saw their growth, their maturation, and they took full advantage of those opportunities, and we're just really excited for them to earn an opportunity to continue their senior season,” he said.
The Tigers finish fourth place in District 7, earning the district's final playoff berth. They will head into the postseason to take on the District 8 champion Atlanta Jackrabbits next week. Atlanta finished the season at 8-2 after taking down Gladewater 21-14 on Friday night. “We're somewhat familiar with them after playing them in non-district last year,” Coach McClain said. “We know that Coach Morton is going to do a really good job of using their athleticism. They're big up front as well.”
But he is optimistic that the Tigers will use their experience against Malakoff to their advantage. “If our guys keep the momentum and confidence that we gained in the first half of tonight, again, I think we can play with them.”
The postseason will begin for McClain and his Tigers on Thursday night in Pittsburg, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
