Panther football on the road for final non-district contest

In its final week of non-district play, the Mt. Pleasant football team is on the road once more.

Now 0-2, the Panthers are looking for their first win ? and the momemtum that comes with it ? before they start playing district games.

?I look at these first three games as builders for the rest of the season,? Coach Bob Jensen said.

The Panthers host Ft. Madison in their first district contest of the season on Sept. 14, which is also their homecoming game.

But first they face Solon.

Solon was last year?s District 6 champion and finished the season with a 9-2 record. The Spartans made the second round of the playoffs, where they fell to the eventual Class 3A champion, Union (LaPorte City), 39-24.

However, the Spartans are not the same team they were last season, and whether or not they?re able to play at that level is still to be determined.

?I guess that?s what we?ll find out,? Jensen said.

Solon graduated its starting quarterback from last year, JJ Hanus, as well as its leader on the ground, Cody Fritz, who finished the season with 972 rushing yards. Last year?s leading receiver, Rory Siddell, is now playing quarterback.

Solon is currently 1-1 after defeating Mt. Vernon, 21-11, in its opener and losing to Iowa City Regina, 31-7, last week.

Last week the Panthers fell to Ottumwa, 33-3.

?We came out and played well in the first half,? Jensen said.

But a little trouble just before and after halftime put the game out of reach.

The Panthers were down 7-0 with only a couple minutes left in the second quarter when a fumble gave Ottumwa the ball and another touchdown. Then, even though Liam Clancy?s second-half kickoff nearly landed in the end zone, Ottumwa was able to run it back 99 1/2 yards for another touchdown.

?The game was pretty much over then,? Jensen said. ?When those two things happened, the guys started getting down on themselves.?

But Jensen saw improvement from the team?s opening game, and when the Panthers play Solon, he is once again looking for a competitive contest ? regardless of what happened last week or last year.

?I think it could be a good ballgame,? Jensen said.

Mt. Pleasant 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:  Justin Nichting,  6-3, 247, Junior

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

Defense

Position: Name,   Ht., Wt.,  Class

LE:  Colton Aplara,  6-1, 215, Senior

T:  Emmett Wester,  6-3, 252, Senior

NT:  Alex Nunez,  5-7, 210, Junior

RE:  Justin Dunn,  6-3, 230, Senior

SLB:  Dustin Amos,  6-3, 176, Junior

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

WLB:  Tyler Ruby,  6-0, 190, Soph.

LC:  Josh Larson,  5-9, 160, Junior

RC:  Lee Davis,  5-10, 153, Senior

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

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

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