Panthers look for first win

TIPTON — It’s a rare unfamiliar foe for the Mt. Pleasant football team, as the Panthers travel north to Tipton for a non-district showdown.

The Panthers and Tigers have only played twice in recent memory. Tipton won that game 47-28, in 2020.

Mt. Pleasant comes into Friday night’s game 0-2, having lost a home game to Fairfield 38-14 and a road game at West Burlington 47-28.

Tipton, on the other hand, comes in 2-0 with both wins coming on the road. The Tigers beat up on Louisa-Musactine 54-0 and took down Vinton-Shellsburg 19-8.

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Mt. Pleasant has done most of its work on the ground through two games. Mt. Pleasant has rushed for 269 yards and a pair of scores. Jurha Turner leads the team with 174 yards, and Payton Walker has 78 yards and two touchdowns.

Cooper Coleman comes into Game 3 as the starting quarterback having completed nine passes for 89 yards and a touchdown. Turner has the team’s only score.

Walker leads the team with 11.5 tackles. Carson Andreasen has 10.

The Panthers have three special teams touchdowns so far. Turner has scored on a kick return and a defensive fumble recovery on a punt, and Jackson Newman has brought a kick return to the house as well.

Tipton has been pretty balanced so far this year. Quarterback Ayden Bosten hast thrown for 229 yards and three scores, and has also ran for 101 yards and a touchdown. Ian Spangler has rushed for 129 yards, and Landon Hobb has rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

The Panthers will have to figure out a way to settle down receiver Griffin Naderman. The senior has caught just five passes this year, but he has piled up 153 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Tipton has six takeaways so far this year. The Tigers have four interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Friday night’s game will begin at 7:30 p.m.