Sept. 23rd: Pioneers Stay Atop the PAC

BY: ELI SMITH

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

The Football team traveled to Mt. Vernon on Friday, September 23rd, coming off a loss at home to the No. 1 team in 2A the Linton-Stockton Miners. Mt. Vernon was coming into the matchup with a 4-1 record while the Pioneers came in at 3-2

Boonville received the kickoff in the first half, and then embarked on a long drive before Quarterback Clay Conner punched the ball in from the 1 yard line. After both teams punted the ball once, Mt.Vernon began driving down the field and got into Boonville territory towards the end of the 1st quarter. That drive came to an end when Clay Conner picked off Mt. Vernon’s Quarterback. 

Near the end of the first quarter Running Back Recce Wilder hit a huge hole  opened up by Ethan Parker and Brooks Aigner. Reece Wilder took it 60 yards to the house, giving the Pioneers a 14-0 lead going into the second quarter.

Mt.Vernon answered back with a touchdown drive of their own to start the second quarter. Boonville was in need of a momentum shift to take back a firm lead. That momentum shift was made when Clay Conner rolled out of the pocket and found Junior receiver Marques Ballard in the back of the endzone from 17 yards out. After Forcing a quick 3 and out from the Wildcats the Pioneers marched down the field and punched it in the end zone for a fourth time on the night making the score 26-6. Mt .Vernon then went on a quick drive and scored a Touchdown just 11 seconds before the half, making the halftime score 26-13.

The Pioneers had much control of the first half, and kept that going.  Pioneer’s defense was dominant this quarter, as they didn’t give up any points and forced multiple punts. Boonville stretched their lead to 32-13 after Reece Wilder capped a solid drive from 5 yards out towards the end of the quarter.

Boonville gave up a late touchdown in the fourth quarter, but the Pioneers had already built a comfortable lead and took the win by a score of 32-20. Reece Wilder had a career game with 168 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. 

Quarterback Clay Conner said in an interview after the game that, “We’re the underdogs and we love it” making it seem that people can keep sleeping on the Pioneers, but they need to know that just fuels this team to win more and more.