Panthers pound Panthers

KNOXVILLE — The Mt. Pleasant Panthers were on the hunt on Friday night, and they ended up feasting on their own in Knoxville.

The Mt. Pleasant Panthers beat up the Knoxville Panthers 42-8, securing the school’s largest margin of victory since 2019.

Mt. Pleasant utilized a balanced offensive attack to score in every quarter, but it was the defense that showed dominance for the second-straight week, shutting Knoxville out until the game went into a running clock.

Mt. Pleasant scored 36 points of the game, leading 21-0 at halftime and 28-0 after three quarters, before hitting the magic number for a running clock after scoring first in the fourth to bring the lead above 35.

Knoxville cut the lead back down to 36-8 with a passing touchdown and a two-point conversion later in the fourth, but Mt. Pleasant put one more in the end zone for its sixth touchdown of the game.

Mt. Pleasant scored four of those touchdowns on the ground. Ramzy Davis rumbled for 70 yards and three scores, and Griffen Jones ran for 40 yards and a score.

Grayson Walker was efficient passing the ball, going 9-for-14 for 164 yards and a touchdown in the win.

The biggest offensive play of the game was a 74-yard touchdown pass from Walker to Asa Rose. That one catch helped Rose lead the receiving group.

Brody Clark had three catches for 43 yards on the day. Merrick Lamm finished with two catches for 30 yards.

Mt. Pleasant’s biggest play on defense and special teams was a blocked punt. Keegan Birdsell blocked it, and Max Sloat scooped it up for a five-yard return to the end zone.

Gavin Kerr had a fumble recovery in the win. Jack Newman picked off his second pass in two games. Isaiah Lange led the team with 11 tackles, and Sloat finished up with 10.5.

Mt. Pleasant is now 2-0 for the first time since 2017. The Panthers will now travel to Oskaloosa (0-2) for another non-district battle this Friday night.