NEW MARKET — Just in case the last two overtime wins weren’t heart pounding enough for Southmont football and its fans, the Mounties had at least one more in store on Friday night. After capturing the schools first sectional title, the Mounties welcomed the Eastern Hancock Royals to Mountie Stadium in front of an electric crowd. The Mountie magic continued and with yet another thrilling, instant classic of a game Southmont captured their first Regional Title in program history and advanced to the Semi-State with a 41-34 win.
“This was one heck of an effort by every player who stepped foot out on that field,” Southmont coach Desson Hannum said. “To know that we will now be playing in the semi-state next week, it was never in my wildest dreams that we’d get to this point. We worked so hard to win the school’s first sectional title and now to add a Regional title to this, its a surreal moment that these kids I know will never forget and neither will I. We’ve turned what many thought was the impossible into the possible.”
It was all Mounties in the first half leading 20-7 at the break but the Royals had a response. With 8:38 left Eastern Hancock took a 34-28 lead after their extra point was blocked. The Mounties then responded and methodically went 58 yards in just under seven minutes and Wyatt Woodall scored to make it 34-34 after the Royals blocked an extra point of their own. Eastern Hancock then fumbled which gave the Mounties the ball back with a prime scoring opportunity.
Woodall got every single carry on the drive and with 32.4 seconds remaining, the senior fullback scored what was the game winning touchdown.
“This whole team is full of fighters and that’s what separates us from everyone else. We’re embracing the under dog role and we thrive in that. We’re all out there playing for each other and for me I know that I’m not just playing for my own pads and helmet but for those guys’ too. That’s what allows me to run as hard as I do.”
On the night Woodall carried the Mounties on his back to the tune of 267 yards on 34 carries and four touchdowns. Nolan Boyer got the Mounties on the board first with a big 62 yard house call. Right before that South’s defense stood tall and forced a turnover on downs. Fast forward to the second quarter where the Royals looked poised to even up the game at 14-14, and the Mounties defense denied them on a fourth and goal from the one-yard line as Edon was stopped short of the end-zone. The Mounties then proceeded to go 99 yards the other way to go up 20-7.
For the game Southmont ran the ball 47 times for 435 yards. Boyer completed just two passes (2-5) for 19 yards. The Royals, who end their season with an 8-5 record, were balanced all night long. They tallied 476 yards with 237 coming on the ground and 239 through the air.
“We felt like we had the advantage on the ground tonight with Wyatt and our offensive line,” Hannum said. “Even when we got down, our message to the guys was simply just stick together. This game was a testament to our kids and their resiliency. Tonight was a battle of two great teams and that’s what you want in this type of game. Two heavyweights going punch for punch and then on that last play which seemed like the ball hung up there forever, our secondary knocked it down which is something we practice each week. The grit of this group is something that is unlike any team I’ve been a part of.”
Woodall knew that the games final moments were going to be in his hands. He wasn’t going to let this his teammates or every Mountie fan in attendance down and carried the load when his team needed him the most.
“Coach Hannum and I spend so much time together so when we came out for that last drive, I knew the only person touching the ball was going to be me,” Woodall said. “I embrace that role of being the guy to lean on for this team and it’s something that I enjoy. We’ve thrived in the clutch here in the post-season and it just comes down to us not wanting to be done. The want and will to win is something that’s so special with this team. We have to take it one week at a time get back to practice and get to enjoy this week as a team.”
For the Mounties their dream season marches straight on as they improve to 8-5 on the season. The Mounties are one of the final four teams left standing in Class 2A and now they’re a single game away from playing at Lucas Oil Stadium. Next up for the Mounties will be a very lengthy bus ride all the way down South to take on North Posey who defeated Triton Central 28-13 in their Regional championship. The game will be played this Saturday at 5 p.m. eastern (4 p.m. central).
For this group of Mounties it doesn’t matter who are when or even where they play, this team will be ready no matter what. Southmont has reached the Final Four and now with a win on Saturday would punch their ticket to Lucas Oil Stadium.
