Panthers look for 1st win

MT. PLEASANT — Friday night just might be the night for the Mt. Pleasant football team. The struggling Panthers welcome in West Burlington, a team Mt. Pleasant has owned in the past six years.

The Panthers and Falcons have played three times since 2016. Mt. Pleasant is 2-0 in those games, including a 24-20 road win last season. That win was the Panthers’ only victory of the 2021 campaign.

It won’t be an easy task, as although West Burlington matches Mt. Pleasant’s 0-3 record, the Falcons have played a couple of quality teams close, falling victim to a Mid-Prairie rally in Week 1 to lose 28-18 and then falling to unbeaten foes Fort Madison, 17-6, and Mediapolis, 40-12.

Mt. Pleasant has scored at least 20 points in each game, but the Panthers have given up at least 40 in each contest.

The Panther passing attack his been electric. Jacob Richtman has completed a state-leading 73 passes for 762 yards and six touchdowns. Wyatt Woodsmall has caught 21 of those passes for 297 yards and three scores.

Mt. Pleasant has struggled a bit running the ball, although Zerek Venghaus does average five yards per carry. He leads the team with 120 total rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Bowen Davis leads Mt. Pleasant on the defensive end with 17 total tackles. The Panthers average one take-away a game, as both Woodsmall and Payton Walker have interceptions, and Garrett Cook has one fumble recovery.

West Burlington’s Travain Donaldson leads the West Burlington offense with 319 yards on the ground and one touchdown. He also leads the team in receptions, with 11, and has gained 50 yards through the air.

Quarterback Caden Schwenker has completed 32 passes for 408 yards and three scores, and receiver Carsen Jones has caught four passes for 91 yards and one touchdown.

West Burlington’s Hayden Vandenberg has 21.5 tackles on the day, including 13 solo tackles. The Falcons have two takeaways, both interceptions.

A win would put the Panthers back on track heading into district play. Mt. Pleasant plays at Fort Madison next week.