WESSINGTON SPRINGS — Mount Vernon/Plankinton couldn’t have asked for a better start in its final regular season game. 

The Titans stunned Class 11B No. 3 Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central, 30-6, in Friday high school football action. MVP capitalized on three WWSSC turnovers in the first half, and led 30-0 at halftime en route to the upset win. 

“These kids came out ready to play,” MVP coach AJ Kortemeyer said. “They were ready to play from the jump and that's what we preached, and that’s exactly what they did.”

Mount Vernon/Plankinton (4-4) scored on its opening possession, and its defense forced the Bucks (7-1) into three first-half turnovers to spark the 30-0 halftime lead. The Titans recovered two fumbles and intercepted a pass, scoring 24 points off the three turnovers. 

“We came out good at the start,” MVP senior Tyce Feistner said. “We had to bring good intensity. We just had to execute what we’ve been planning all week and we just came out hot.”

The Titans marched down the field on the opening drive, scoring on a Feistner one-yard touchdown run to cap off a nearly eight-minute drive. 

“It set the tone for the night for us,” Kortemeyer said. “That’s something we haven’t been great on throughout the year is the opening drive. It was really good to see the guys really execute tonight and take care of that.” 

The Titans then played complementary football. On WWSSC’s opening drive, the Titans pounced on a fumble and Feister hit Riley Mayer for a seven-yard TD pass on fourth down. 

On WWSSC’s next possession, the Titans intercepted a Luke Larson pass and a Kyle Sandland one-yard touchdown run made it 24-0.

The Titans tacked on another first-half score, this time on a Mayer seven-yard touchdown run. It was set up by a WWSSC fumble and the Titans led 30-0 at halftime. 

“We were stop, score, stop, score to start the game, which is no better way to start,” Kortemeyer said. 

In total, the Titans forced WWSSC into five turnovers and they intercepted Larson twice. Larson completed 3-of-18 passes and all-stater Colby Flowers, a 6-foot-5, 218-pound tight end, was held without a catch. 

“Larson is flat out mobile,” Kortemeyer said. “That kid can fly around and make plays on his feet when he has to. We had to make sure we covered him up and make sure we had Flowers covered up.” 

Larson connected with McCoy Schulz for a 35-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter, but MVP held the Bucks’ offense in check for most of the night. 

“The defense played their tail off,” Kortemeyer said. “They played extremely well and that’s something that we pride ourselves on. They’ve played really well for the last three weeks and that's steady for us. That’s not something that ebbs and flows. They just play well and that’s what they do. They did their job tonight. They did exactly what we needed them to do.”

Up next, both teams will gear up for the Class 11B playoffs. The pairings will be released later, but the Titans have a nice shot of confidence heading into the postseason.  

“I think it definitely helps us lead into the playoffs getting a big win,” Feistner said. 

For MVP, it could also mean a home game in the first round. 

“You always want to play at home in October and that would be awesome for our kids,” Kortemeyer said. “It would be awesome for our seniors who have dedicated so much to his program and this team.”