Mt. Pleasant opens district play against Ft. Madison in homecoming game

?All three phases of the game we haven?t been good on, and we know that,? Mt. Pleasant Football Head Coach Bob Jensen said. ?The coaches know it, the kids know it, and I?m sure the fans can see it.?

The Panthers are now 0-3 and begin district play with their homecoming game against Ft. Madison (1-2) on Friday.

?We have so much to work on, but this week we?ve been focusing on defense and our coverage teams ? we want to limit the returns that are happening and make other teams punt,? Jensen said. ?If we can do that, I think we?ll be in the game. We?ve made a lot of progress this week.?

The Mt. Pleasant defense also welcomed back Justin Dilks this week; he has been out the first three games with an injury.

?He?s a good player, and (his return) also gives us the opportunity to rest Carson Remick and Josh Larson ... we can get a rotation going in the backfield.?

The Panthers will need a well-rested, alert and focused defense against the Bloodhounds.

?Ft. Madison?s offense really attacks the field horizontally and vertically,? Jensen said. ?They really make you cover the field on defense.?

Cruz Fedler and Ryley Basham have taken turns playing quarterback for the Bloodhounds this season, and each has one passing touchdown. Both of those passes landed in the hands of Logan Huffman for his only two catches on the season.

Wesley Bernhardt is the favorite target with 17 catches for 173 yards.

On the ground, the Bloodhounds have scored six touchdowns this year ? three each by Brady Petry and Ben Votroubek. Petry leads the Bloodhounds with 173 rushing yards on the season, and Votroubek has 112 yards.

Votroubek also leads the Ft. Madison defense with 23 tackles. Landon Dohman has 18 tackles.

?Their defense is not (predictable),? Jensen said. ?They?ll probably put a lot of pressure on us with linebacker blitzes.?

But no matter what the Bloodhounds throw at them, the Panthers are determined to be ready for it.

?We haven?t played well and we need to play better,? Jensen said.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Mt. Pleasant Panthers? starting lineup

Offense

Position: Name,   Ht.,  Wt.,    Class

QB:  Connor Shull,  6-1, 175, Senior

TB:  Josh Larson,  5-9, 160, Junior

FB:  Carson Remick,  5-11, 190, Junior

WR:  Dalton Conrad,  5-10, 140, Senior

WR:  Alex O?Donnell,  5-9, 160, Senior

WR:  Dustin Amos,  6-3, 176, Junior

LT:  Emmett Wester,  6-3, 252, Senior

LG:  Justin Dunn,  6-3, 230, Senior

C:  Jackson Kelley,  6-4, 297, Soph.

RG:  Colton Aplara,  6-1, 215, Senior

RT:  Matt Scudder,  6-2, 209, Junior

Kicker: Liam Clancy,  6-0, 165, Senior

Defense

Position: Name,   Ht., Wt.,  Class

LE:  Colton Aplara,  6-1, 215, Senior

LT:  Justin Nichting,  6-3, 247, Junior

RT:  Emmett Wester,  6-3, 252, Senior

RE:  Justin Dunn,  6-3, 230, Senior

SLB:  Dustin Amos,  6-3, 176, Junior

MLB:  Carson Remick,  5-11, 190, Junior

WLB:  Justin Dilks,  6-2, 202, Junior

C:  Alex O?Donnell, 5-9, 160, Senior

C:  Lee Davis,  5-10, 153, Senior

S:  Dalton Conrad,  5-10, 140, Senior

S:  Tony Cristoforo,  5-11, 152, Soph.

Punter: Alex O?Donnell,  5-9, 160, Senior