Panther football is 3-0

OSKALOOSA — The Mt. Pleasant football was firing on all cylinders on Friday night in its final non-district road test of the year, a Class 3A battle with Oskaloosa.

Mt. Pleasant came in seeking their its first 3-0 start in 17 years, and the Indians couldn’t deter the red-hot Panthers, as MP got out with a 34-20 victory.

Mt. Pleasant suffocated Oskaloosa on both sides of the ball in the first half, scoring the first 20 points of the game to give blowout feelings early on.

The only first quarter score of the game was a 20-yard touchdown pass from Greyson Walker to Isaiah Lange. It was Lange’s second touchdown reception in two weeks, and it was 6-0 Panthers by the first buzzer.

Early in the second quarter, the Panthers began their barrage on the ground. Mt. Pleasant scored on a 6-yard rushing touchdown by Ramzy Davis just 30 seconds into the second quarter, and Griffen Jones found his way into the end zone just a few minutes later, scoring on a short rushing touchdown after a Panther interception.

Jones’ touchdown run put the Panthers up 20-0 with 7:41 on the clock. Oskaloosa broke up the shut out with a passing touchdown, but the Panthers went back up by three scores with 1:33 left in the half when Davis pushed forward for his second touchdown of the game, making it 27-6.

Mt. Pleasant’s biggest lead of the game was 28, as Davis found the end zone with 5:47 left in the third quarter to put the Panthers up 34-6. That’s where the score would stay until the fourth.

Oskaloosa was able to cut into the Panther lead in the final period, scoring on a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown in the final seven minutes of the game.

Walker had another efficient outing throwing the ball, going 7-for-12 for 142 yards and a touchdown. His favorite receiver was Lange, who caught four passes for 80 yards and a score.

Ramzy Davis ran for just 50 yards but scored thrice. Ryan Helling ran for 22 yards. Kaden Schadt had two catches for 45 yards.

Lange led the defense with 4.5 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Jack Newman and Asa Rose each had picks in the win, and Caleb Shepherd had a fumble recovery.

The Panthers are now 3-0 for the first time since the 2008 season, a year the Panthers were undefeated in the regular season.

The win sets up a big game this Friday night as the Panthers host another 3-0 team in Central Dewitt. That game will be the final non-district contest of the year, with Mt. Pleasant hosting Washington on Homecoming one week later.