Panthers pound Bulldogs

OTTUMWA - Mt. Pleasant came to Ottumwa on Friday night and rained all over the Bulldogs' homecoming parade.

The Panthers forced four turnovers, rattled off 35 points in a row and handed Ottumwa a 35-7 loss.

The first quarter was the Rylan Seberg show for Mt. Pleasant. He picked off a pass on defense, and then on the ensuing possession, Brody Bender found him for a 25-yard touchdown pass.

Ottumwa drove to the goal line and was set up for the tying score in the second quarter, but Brady Hall picked off a pass at the goal line. Mt. Pleasant drove downfield and eventually scored on a 23-yard run by Kleyton Kleinkopf, making it 14-0.

Mt. Pleasant scored two more times in the second quarter. Logan Bass found the end zone on a 12-yard run, and Bender found Chase Williamson on a seven-yard touchdown pass. At halftime, Mt. Pleasant led 28-0.

The longest touchdown of the day came in the third quarter. Bender hit Seberg on a 48-yard touchdown pass, which made it 35-0 after Hall's fifth extra-point of the day.

The running clock was on until the Bulldogs were able to finally score in the fourth quarter.

'I was really impressed with the way our kids played,” head coach Shawn Striegel said. 'I saw Ottumwa on film and was really nervous coming into this one and our kids really stepped on the field ready to play.”

Bender finished the day 12-18 for 193 yards and three touchdowns. Seberg caught five passes for 139 yards and two scores, and Brennen Bender caught four passes for 35 yards.

Jack Johnson led the Panthers with 77 rushing yards. Bass ran for 67 yards and a score, and Kleinkopf went for 48 yards and a score.

Mt. Pleasant picked off three passes on the day, two by Hall and one by Seberg. Williamson recovered one fumble.

The Panther are now 3-1 overall. They'll open district play next week in their homecoming game against Fairfield.

'We're 0-0 right now in district play,” Coach Striegel said. 'So we've got to come out ready to play next Friday night on homecoming and take care of business.”