Mount Vernon’s Seth Tercero crosses the goal line past a tackle attempt by Monroe’s Austin Moyes during a game on Sept. 28, 2018, at Monroe High School. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Mount Vernon’s Seth Tercero crosses the goal line past a tackle attempt by Monroe’s Austin Moyes during a game on Sept. 28, 2018, at Monroe High School. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Mount Vernon outlasts Monroe in Wesco 4A shootout (video)

The revamped Bulldogs rush for 412 yards in a back-and-forth 45-34 conference win over the Bearcats.

MONROE — Before doing his postgame interview, Mount Vernon football coach Nic Vasilchek said he needed a moment to catch his breath.

After all, his Bulldogs had just spent the previous two-and-a-half hours trading blows with Monroe in a dizzying, back-and-forth contest filled with big plays.

The Bearcats simply wouldn’t go away, repeatedly clawing back to make it a one-possession game.

But seemingly every time, Mount Vernon had an answer.

The Bulldogs rushed for 412 yards and continued their massive turnaround with a 45-34 win over the Bearcats in an action-packed Wesco 4A clash Friday night at Monroe High School.

“When you get (a lead) early, every team can do that,” Vasilchek said. “But when you get punched back in the mouth, it’s how you respond.”

Mount Vernon kept responding, and in doing so earned a signature victory.

Just two years ago, the Bulldogs were a struggling program coming off back-to-back winless campaigns in 2015 and 2016. But since Vasilchek took over prior to last season, Mount Vernon has undergone an impressive transformation.

With Friday night’s win, the Bulldogs improved to 4-1 for the first time since 2013 and avenged last year’s 58-7 loss to eventual Class 4A state-quarterfinalist Monroe.

“It’s an absolutely huge win,” Vasilchek said. “Last year, they were one of the best teams in the state and they really took it to us. … Our kids believed, and we really wanted to prove that we belonged in this league and belonged in the playoff picture.

“It’s just an amazing and resilient win for our kids on the road. I couldn’t be happier. I know the whole town of Mount Vernon is going nuts right now.”

CRAZY END TO 1ST HALF

With Mount Vernon holding a 10-7 lead late in the second quarter, a low-scoring affair suddenly turned into a back-and-forth shootout, with the two teams combining for three touchdowns in the final minute of the first half.

The Bulldogs (4-1 overall, 2-1 Wesco 4A) began the scoring spree, extending their lead to 17-7 on senior Seth Tercero’s 4-yard touchdown run with one minute left in the half.

Monroe (1-4, 1-2) answered with a long kickoff return and a quick two-play drive, capped by junior receiver Efton Chism III’s leaping 19-yard touchdown grab with 36 seconds remaining.

On the second play of Mount Vernon’s ensuing possession, junior receiver Carlos Garcia hauled in a deep 35-yard pass from senior Reilly Olmsted, moving the ball to the Monroe 19.

Then, after spiking the ball to stop the clock with six seconds left, Olmsted scrambled left and dived just inside the pylon for a 19-yard touchdown run as time expired to give the Bulldogs a 24-14 halftime lead.

“It was a funny play, because we were trying to throw the ball one more time to see if could get it in the end zone, and (if not) we were going to kick a field goal,” Vasilchek said. “So when Reilly tucked it down, we were like, ‘No, no, no, no, no.’ And then it turned into, ‘Yes, yes,’ and we all got crazy.

“These kids have been through a lot. They’ve worked really hard, and something went their way. And I think that’s karma. When you do things right, things go your way. That was one of those plays that made a huge difference, and the football gods were smiling on us.”

BACK-AND-FORTH 2ND HALF

The teams continued trading blows in the second half, with Monroe three times cutting a double-digit deficit to four points or less. But the Bearcats were never able to pull in front.

After Monroe junior running back Blake Rybar scored on a 28-yard swing pass that trimmed the margin to 38-34 with less than eight minutes to play, the Bulldogs answered with a back-breaking 11-play, 81-yard scoring drive.

Olmsted capped the touchdown march by scoring on an 8-yard quarterback keeper with 3:19 remaining, giving Mount Vernon an 11-point lead that proved too much for the Bearcats to overcome.

MOUNT VERNON’S 1-2 PUNCH

Monroe had no answer for a two-headed rushing attack of Tercero and senior Landon Edwards that averaged a combined 8.4 yards per carry.

The hard-running Tercero served as Mount Vernon’s primary workhorse, rushing for 236 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries. Edwards, who kept the Bearcats’ defense off-balance with a heavy dose of jet sweeps, provided 144 yards and a score on 17 carries.

Olmsted added 32 yards rushing and three touchdown runs, including his back-breaking 19-yard score on the final play of the first half.

“We just weren’t able to stop them,” Monroe coach Michael Bumpus said. “They ran three plays really good — that jet sweep, that counter and that quarterback sneak. That’s all they really needed on us.

“They found the mismatch and exploited it. … They’re good up front. Size matters, and they’ve got some size on us.”

MONROE’S BIG-PLAY PASSING ATTACK

Junior quarterback Gio Fregoso completed 21 of 27 passes for 378 yards, four touchdowns and one interception to lead a big-play aerial attack that kept the Bearcats in the game.

Sophomore receiver Trey Lane caught five passes for a team-high 170 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown reception and a 69-yard catch-and-run that set up Monroe’s first score.

Chism III continued his big season with six receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns. He also intercepted a pass on defense.

BEARCATS STRUGGLE ON THE GROUND

Yet while Monroe’s passing attack shined, the Bearcats struggled mightily to establish any sort of running game.

One week after rushing for 175 yards and four touchdowns in a rout of Mariner, Rybar was held to just 36 yards on 14 carries against Mount Vernon’s stout defensive front. The Bulldogs sacked Fregoso four times and limited Monroe to just 12 net rushing yards on 25 attempts.

“When you have to rely on the passing, you’re not going to win football games like that,” Bumpus said. “We had to establish the run, and we just weren’t able to do that. (Mount Vernon) was tough in the box, and I think they’re going to shake up the league this year.”

MONROE’S TOUGH START

After graduating numerous players from last year’s state-quarterfinal team and facing a challenging opening stretch this fall, the 1-4 Bearcats already have as many losses this season as the previous two years combined.

LOOKAHEAD

Monroe looks to rebound against Jackson next Friday night at Everett Memorial Stadium in a battle between teams that are 1-2 in Wesco 4A play. Though it’s not quite a postseason elimination contest, the loser would face a difficult road to reaching the Week 10 playoffs.

Mount Vernon hosts Mariner next Friday night in a matchup of teams that are 2-1 in Wesco 4A. The Marauders beat Jackson 25-20 Friday night.

Click here for box score

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Shorewood senior Bridget Cox (11) elevates to get a shot over Everett senior Aimelie Hovde-Girard (21) in Shorewood's 41-30 win in the opening round of the District 1 3A Girls Tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Shorewood girls’ basketball avoids Everett upset bid in 41-30 win

Glasser’s ‘dagger’ 3 capped second-half run, pushed No. 5 Stormrays to 3A District 1 Quarterfinals

Prep roundup for Wednesday, Feb. 12

Area girls basketball teams tip off district action.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 2-8

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 2-8. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Prep basketball roundup for Tuesday, Feb. 11

Tulalip Heritage finishes second in district tournament.

Vancouver Giants goalie Burke Hood makes a play for the puck against the Everett Silvertips, who lost 6-2 to the Giants at Langley Events Centre on Saturday, one day after clinching a WHL playoff spot. (Rob Wilton, Giants/Special to Black Press Media).
Tips Week in Review: Everett first in WHL to clinch playoff berth

The Silvertips defeated Kamloops on Friday to secure spot, but lost to Vancouver on Saturday

Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak (left) and head coach Mike Macdonald (right) spoke to the media at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025 (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
New Seahawks OC excited to coach Geno Smith

Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has “a lot of respect” for Seahawks QB.

Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett (16) runs with after a catch against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
Tyler Lockett’s future with Seahawks remains unclear

Seattle coach Mike Macdonald noncommittal 1 month before a possible decision point.

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) throws a pass against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
O’Neil: The Seahawks will keep Geno Smith

The reasons for the Seahawks quarterback sticking around are simple and obvious.

The Edmonds-Woodway bench reacts to a foul call during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Monday, Feb. 10

Warriors win battle of division champs.

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Perfect week no help to Gonzaga

An unbeaten week against a pair of middle- to lower-tier West Coast… Continue reading

LeBron James (23) and Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers look on as John Collins (20) of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Lakers’ LeBron James and Luka Doncic hit the ground running

LeBron James and Luka Doncic represent different generations and… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.