Mighty Bears represent tough test for Pekin

A little bit of Panther momentum may have been lost with last week?s loss to Wapello and with a trip to No. 3-ranked West Branch coming up on Friday, getting it back may be easier said than done.

Pekin hopes to be firing on all cylinders to give the 2008 district champ Bears, who also played all the way to the Class 1A state semifinals, a run for their money. West Branch hasn?t dropped a game all season with their closest margin of victory coming in last week?s 22-point win against Belle Plaine.

Still, the Bears had a similar rap sheet entering last season?s tilt before Pekin gave them arguably their best game of the season. Panther quarterback Dalton Stone threw for 170 yards and two scores and ran for two more as Pekin took West Branch down to the wire before giving up a 35-28 loss at home.

Stone is back for the Panthers this year with upset on his mind going against a Bear defense that is as stout as it is explosive. West Branch gives up just 16 points a game and has also returned four of the team?s eight interceptions back for six points. Four of those picks and two of the touchdowns have come from the hands and legs of defensive back Riley Carew.

The Bear offense also does its best to not be overlooked however, especially if running back Cole Kelly has anything to say about it. Kelly has already ran for 889 yards in 2009 taking just 71 carries to do so. Kelly?s sky-high 12.5 yards per carry has earned him 10 touchdowns and is backed up by Jayson Madsen, who has toted for 204 yards and six touchdowns of his own.

Last week?s Panther loss was the result of a high-powered Wapello passing attack so Pekin hopes to be able to contain the West Branch running game to post its third district win and stay above .500 on the year.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in West Branch.