Panthers pop 10th-ranked Clippers

TIFFIN — The Mt. Pleasant football team made a statement on Friday night in Tiffin. The Panthers knocked off No. 10 Clear Creek-Amana 42-20 in the season opener.

Mt. Pleasant used a stifling defensive effort and a balanced attack on offense to grab the lead in the first quarter and hold it until the final buzzer sounded. Early on, it was the running game that led the way.

Jack Johnson went for two touchdowns in the first quarter for Mt. Pleasant. He scored on a one-yard run late in the first quarter, and punched in another touchdown from three-yards out in the second. The Panthers led 14-0 at the half.

Johnson and Logan Bass traded rushing attacks right up the gut against CCA, following the offensive line to first down after first down until the ball was finally in the end zone.

'They didn't really know who was getting the ball,' Johnson said. 'They couldn't really overload one side, because then we'd just go to the other. It's really nice running behind (Bass).'

Early in the second half, CCA cut the lead to 14-6 on a one-yard run by Gage Freeman, but Mt. Pleasant scored the next 21 points, including two touchdown runs by Bass.

Bass made it 21-6 with a six-yard touchdown run midway through the third. Brody Bender hit Rylan Seberg on a 59-yard bomb with 3:16 left in the third, and Bass broke free on a 40-yard touchdown scamper with just 28 seconds left in the third period.

'I've been waiting for that for years,' said Bass about his 40-yard score. 'That play just lined up perfectly. The hole was there. I made that quick bounce and ran it right up the middle.'

CCA was able to score twice more in the fouth quarter, but those two touchdowns were sandwiched by a 34-yard touchdown pass from Bender to Chase Williamson on third and long.

Bass finished the night with 96 yards rushing and two scores. Johnson had 51 yards and two touchdowns.

Bender went 8-13 for 149 yards and two scores. Seberg led the receiving group with four catches for 98 yards and a score, and Williamson wound up with 47 yards and a TD of his own.

Jayden Davis led the way with seven tackles defensively. Brett Baccam had a blocked punt. Overall, the Panther defense held CCA to 231 yards of total offense and just 3.7 yards per play.

'We just play assignment football,' said Johnson. 'We go get the ball. There's not more to it. You just do what you do and win games.'

Mt. Pleasant avenged one of their four losses last season. They were defeated 26-7 at home against CCA in the 2018 home opener.

'I'm really proud of them,' said head coach Shawn Striegel. 'I think just giving the opportunity for the kids to wear down Clear Creek and show their tenacity and toughness made all the difference tonight.'

The Panthers move to 1-0 on the season. They will play another state-ranked team, Pella, in Week 2.