Bowlin leads Mt. Pleasant into 2023

Heading into the fall of 2021, the Mt. Pleasant football program had finished at or above .500 for four-straight seasons, but it has been tough sledding ever since.

The Panthers enter the John Bowlin era after going 0-9 last year, and 1-8 in the season before. Mt. Pleasant looks to grow from that in 2023.

  Buy Photo

Mt. Pleasant will be playing a smaller schedule, at least size wise, as the Panthers move back down into Class 3A this fall, and join a new district.

The Panthers will need to replace some important graduated seniors, including starting quarterback Jacob Richtman, leading rusher Zerek Venghaus and their three top receivers.

The leading non-senior for the Panthers last year was Payton Hagans, who rushed for 172 yards and two touchdowns last year, and went for 175 receiving yards and two scores last season.

Junior Payton Walker and seniors Hayden Logan and Carson Andreasen also got touches at running back last season. Walker leads the returners in tackles, as he finished second among Panther defenders with 34.5 tackles in 2022.

The Panthers will start the year off with a big rivalry game. Mt. Pleasant takes on Fairfield on Friday, Aug. 25, before heading down Highway 34 to take on West Burlington in Week 2.