Panthers host Marion in opener

The Mt. Pleasant football team opens its season Friday night with a home game against non-district Marion.

Both teams finished last season with a 4-5 record, but never faced each other.

?In fact, we haven?t played against them in a long time,? Mt. Pleasant Head Coach Bob Jensen said.

This year, the Panthers will be playing without third team all-state tight end Blake Vandenberg, offensive lineman Nick Lyon and starting quarterback Ross Heitmeier.

They return all-district wide receiver Dalton Conrad as well as kicker Liam Clancy and linemen Emmett Wester and Justin Dunn, each of whom received an all-district honorable mention.

Marion returned most of its team from last season.

?They didn?t have many seniors last year,? Jensen said. ?They have 26 seniors this year, and a big offensive line ? probably their whole offensive line returned. They?re planning on that being a huge strength for them.?

However, Jensen isn?t focusing on Marion?s offensive line. His biggest concern isn?t Marion at all.

?In the first game, you?re more worried about yourself than your opponent,? Jensen said. ?We?ll try to make as few mistakes as possible.

?Keys for us are to not make negative plays on offense, and to make them punt,? he continued. ?They?ll run the ball hard on us. Hopefully we can stop them.?

The Panthers will kick off tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m., following the freshmen game at 5 p.m. The JV team plays at 6 p.m. tonight (Thursday) at Marion.

The other Henry County teams also begin their football seasons on Friday. WACO will host Columbus while Winfield-Mt. Union and New London open on the road. The Wolves will be at Wapello while New London travels to Packwood to play Pekin. All three of those games start at 7 p.m.

For more on all the Henry County fall sports teams, see the previews included with today?s News.

For tomorrow's starting lineup, see below.

Mt. Pleasant Panthers: starting lineup vs. Marion

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, Junior

LG:  Alec Skubal,  5-10, 198, Junior

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

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:  Colten Moore,  5-9, 225, Junior

RT:  Emmett Wester,  6-3, 252, Senior

RE:  Ben Canby,  6-1, 196, Soph.

SLB:  Josh Larson,  5-9, 160, Junior

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

WLB:  Caleb Davis,  5-9, 164, Junior

C:  Alex O?Donnell,  5-9, 160, Senior

C:  Lee Davis,  5-10, 153, Senior

S:  Dalton Conrad,  5-10, 140, Senior

S:  Dustin Amos,  6-3, 176, Junior

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