Mendon gave the Hornets football fans quite an opening act Thursday, complete with a 90-yard opening kickoff return in a 40-0 win over perennial playoff program Fowler.
Parker Cupp took it to the house in the first to start the 2013 season on high note, and head coach John Schwartz’s never took its foot off the gas the rest of the first half. Mendon got a pair of rushing touchdowns from Eli Klepper (two and 64 yards) to help build 339 yards of total offense for the team. Kyle Wiswell caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jordan Medich, who added a score on the ground for a 33-0 halftime lead.
Danny Cleveland crossed the goal line from 35 yards out a second half that had more mercy on Fowler. Medich and Mitchel Coler teamed up for over 100 rushing yards, Cleveland finished with 76 and Brandon Bray added 65 for the Hornets, which had ended the evening with 339 rushing yards. Mendon converted 20 first downs compared to Fowler’s four.
Josh Hawkins picked off a pass and registered a team-high 11 tackles, with Logan Slaughter and Wiswell each notching six.