Panthers scare No. 10 Mediapolis

PACKWOOD - Pekin gave Class 1A's No. 10 Mediapolis a game before falling 27-21 Friday.

'Our kids really worked hard this week at improving and cleaning up some things,” Pekin coach Bud Blakely said. 'I was really pleased with our leadership from our upperclassmen and it showed up in multiple moments through out the game.”

Pekin's Colton Comstock was 4 of 6 passing for 81 yards and a 31-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Winn. Dayne Eckley ran 31 times for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Nick Tschudy led the Panthers in tackles with seven.

'We feel we could be a good football team when we limit turnovers and play disciplined football,” Blakely said. 'Those are the things that kept us in the game against a good Mediapolis team. Our kids never gave up and kept playing hard until the end. These are things that need to become habits for us and if we continue down this path, I feel good things will continue to happen for us.”

Pekin is 0-3 and plays at Davis County Friday.