Football Game Preview: Mt. Vernon Yellowjackets vs. Licking Valley Panthers

The Mt. Vernon Yellowjackets will head out on the road to face off against the Licking Valley Panthers at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Both teams are coming into the matchup red-hot, with Mt. Vernon sitting on five straight wins and Licking Valley on eight.

Mt. Vernon had to skate by with only a one-point margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the 29-point drubbing they dealt Licking Heights on Friday. The Yellowjackets took their contest with ease, bagging a 42-13 victory over the Hornets. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Yellowjackets' considerable advantage in MaxPreps' Ohio football rankings (they are ranked 226th, while the Hornets are ranked 463rd).

A big part of Mt. Vernon's win came down to the chemistry between Mason Richards and his top target Landon Dawson. Richards rushed for 107 yards and one TD on only 12 carries while Dawson gained 105 total yards and three touchdowns. Dawson also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, picking up two sacks and making five total tackles.

On the defensive side of the ball, a lot of the credit has to go to Mt. Vernon's defense and their five sacks. The heavy lifting was done by Lane Mussard and Dawson, who racked up four sacks between them.

Licking Valley hadn't beaten Granville on the road since October 25, 2019 but that history sure didn't bother them on Friday. The Panthers were the clear victors by a 35-14 margin over the Blue Aces. Considering the Panthers have won six games by more than 20 points this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.

Mt. Vernon's record now sits at 6-2. As for Licking Valley, their record is now 8-0.

Mt. Vernon took a serious blow against Licking Valley in their previous matchup back in October of 2024, falling 48-14. Can the Yellowjackets avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.