Mistakes haunt Cubs in loss to Mt’neers, will host McDonald Co. Friday

Monett drops third straight contest as district playoffs loom, looks to right ship in playoff opener against Mustangs
 
The saying credited to Yogi Berra “It’s deja vu all over again” would be a fitting description for the Monett (4-5) football team the last three weeks of the season.
Three weeks ago it was Lamar scoring in the final 62 seconds, and a turnover on the kickoff toppled the Cubs. Two weeks ago, Monett scored on the last play of regulation but missed a 2-point conversion that cost them a shot at overtime.
Then last Friday, Monett had two chances in the final four minutes of the game to tie or take a lead against Mt. Vernon but failed on downs and suffered an interception in the end zone, respectively, to fall 50-42 to the Mt’neers.
“We are knocking on the door,” said Ben Mauk, Monett coach. “We just need to open it and see what is on the other side. We did a lot of good things, but we did some uncharacteristic things with penalties and shot ourselves in the foot.”
Monett was flagged 16 times for 160 yards. Seven of those flags were in the final two drives as the Cubs attempted to take the lead or tie. The biggest being a helping the runner call negating a touchdown.
While Mauk opted not to discuss the penalties, he did stress the need for his team to be strong mentally and cut the number of infractions.
Dylan Washick was 39 of 58, throwing the ball for 507 yards. While junior receiver Carson Nestleroad caught 14 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns, including a 65-yard score with 42 seconds left in the second quarter to send Monett into intermission with a 20-12 lead.
The Mt’neers took advantage of four Monett kickoffs and kickoff coverage mistakes to open the third quarter, beginning their drives at the Monett 31, 35, and 39 and the Mt. Vernon 49.
Give a short field to a Tom Cox-coached team, and that team does what they have done for 40 years, score touchdowns.
A 10-yard pass from Washick to Nestleroad with 6:18 left in the fourth tied the game at 42-42.
Mt. Vernon’s Hunter Conway, with an 18-yard catch and run, elevated the Mt’neers to a 50-42 lead with 4:46 left.
Monett drove to the Mt. Vernon two before penalties forced them back and led to a turnover on down with 2:21 remaining in the game.
The Cubs converted a fumble at the Mt’neer 30 with 1:47 left but threw a third-down interception in the end zone to Jakai Krueger with 1:22 left on the clock.
Mt. Vernon racked up 386 yards of offense, 297 passing and 89 rushing.
Monett hosts McDonald County to open district play Friday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.