Panthers travel south

KEOKUK — The Mt. Pleasant football team will be at Calvert Stadium in Keokuk on Friday night, as the Panthers continue to search for their first win in an SEC clash with the Chiefs.

Mt. Pleasant comes into the game 0-6 after a 42-7 road loss at rival Washington last week. Keokuk suffered devastating 17-14 defeat against rival Fort Madison last week as well.

In the all-time series, the two schools are 7-7 in the last 14 matchups. Mt. Pleasant had dominated for three years in a row before Keokuk won the 2021 game 31-21, and the Chiefs won a shoot out last year 45-29.

Mt. Pleasant has stuck with Payton Walker as a starting quarterback after starting him in the backfield earlier this year, and so far Walker has thrown for 355 yards and three touchdowns, while being picked off six times. Walker also has been the team’s work horse on the ground, going for 415 yards and four scores.

In limited time, Jurha Turner has rushed for 207 yards for second-most on the team. Nobody outside of Walker has found the end zone.

Payson Coleman has developed into the No. 1 option at wide receiver for the Panthers. Coleman has caught nine passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns.

Walker’s 45.5 total tackles paces the Panther defense. Carson Andreasen has 21.5 tackles on the year.

Mt. Pleasant has still only forced two takeaways through six games. Turner scooped up a loose ball for a fumble recovery touchdown in Tipton, and Logan Borders has one fumble recovery of his own.

Turner and Jackson Newman each have one kick return touchdown on the season.

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Keokuk quarterback Brenton Hoard has been one of the best players in the district this season. The Chiefs’ junior star has thrown for 1,222 yards and 13 touchdowns this season, as well as rushing for 632 yards and four scores.

Keokuk’s Malachai Douglas has rushed for 251 yards and three touchdowns so far this season. Chase Eckland and Diego Garcia each have four receiving touchdowns, and Lucas Swainey has found the end zone twice.

Keokuk’s defense has taken the ball away four times. Mason Claus has picked off two passes. Drew Campbell has one interception, and Collin Campbell has recovered one fumble.

Friday night’s game at Calvert Stadium begins at 7:30 p.m.