Familiar faces await Mt. Pleasant football

MT. PLEASANT — The Mt. Pleasant football team will be making the move to Class 4A in 2021 after the Iowa High School Athletic Association added a class in the offseason.

Although it means playing in separate districts than some old rivals, the Panthers will still play a schedule full of familiar teams.

Mt. Pleasant will renew its two biggest rivalries in the first two weeks of the season. The Panthers host Fairfield in the opener on Aug. 27, and one week later they’ll travel north to Washington.

Mt. Pleasant has had different results against its chief rivals in the past two seasons. The Panthers beat Fairfield four-straight times but lost to Washington 10-straight years.

In Week 3, Mt. Pleasant has another non-district game against a Southeast Conference opponent. The Panthers will play Keokuk one year after their 2020 matchup was canceled due to COVID-19 related reasons.

Mt. Pleasant will close out non-district play with a road game at West Burlington-Notre Dame.

The Panthers will play most games close to home in 2021. Mt. Pleasant will play five of its nine games on their home turf and will play close-knit road games. The longest trip is a one-hour drive north to play Iowa City Liberty in Week 6.

Mt. Pleasant went 4-4 last season. The Panthers will have a shot to avenge three losses from 2020, playing at Washington in Week 2, at home against Fort Madison in Week 5 and a home game against 2020 Class 3A champion North Scott in the final game of the season.

Aug. 27 Fairfield at Mt. Pleasant

Sept. 3 Mt. Pleasant at Washington

Sept. 10 Keokuk at Mt. Pleasant

Sept. 17 Mt. Pleasant at West Burlington-Notre Dame

Sept. 24 Fort Madison at Mt. Pleasant

Oct. 1 Mt. Pleasant at Liberty

Oct. 8 Mt. Pleasant at Burlington

Oct. 15 Clinton at Mt. Pleasant

Oct. 22 North Scott at Mt. Pleasant