Area action: Uhlenhopp leads the way for Mustangs in 42-0 romp
Lynnville-Sully maintains winning ways in district action
If Zach Uhlenhopp was nervous about making his debut at quarterback for PCM Friday night, it didn't show. In a 42-0 dismantling of Clarke of Osceola, the junior signalcaller had a monster first half, scoring on runs of 4, 12 and 4 yards, respectively, while adding a fourth touchdown on a 9-yard pass to Michael Neff.
The Mustangs needed just four plays and one minute, 19 second, to score the first points of the night. They then forced a turnover on the Indians' next possession, taking over at their own 10-yard line.
PCM couldn't do much on its next possession on offense, but the defense forced a turnover on downs a couple minutes later, giving the Mustangs the ball at their own 40-yard line. Uhlenhopp carried the ball twice, taking it down to the Clarke 15, setting up the second scoring run of the night for Blake McWilliams on the very next play.
The extra point kick was blocked and the ensuing kickoff went out of bounds. Clarke opted for a re-kick and took over at its own 41. On the very next play, however, Ethan Kain picked off a Rich Wilkins pass at the Mustang 33.
Three plays later, Uhlenhopp marched in from 12 yards out, then converted a two-point pass to Jade Coleman on a fake kick to make the score 21-0 with less than eight seconds to play in the first quarter. After forcing Clarke to punt on its next possession, Kain returned the ensuing punt to the Indians' 41.
Two minutes later, Uhlenhopp connected with Neff to make the score 28-0.
Midway through the second quarter, Wilkins attempted a quarterback keeper up the middle, gaining five yards for Clarke. But, he was injured on the play and was forced to leave the game. Logan Weers took the snap on the next play, then Brett Moffett went under center for the Indians.
A short time later, on a third-and-9 from the Clarke 41, Coleman picked off a Moffett pass and returned it to the Mustang 39. But three plays later, Uhlenhopp's pass intended for Kain was picked off by an Indian defender at the Clarke 5.
PCM returned the favor three plays later when McWilliams picked off another Moffett pass and returned it to the Clarke 5 with about two minutes remaining. Uhlenhopp ran the ball in a short time later from 4 yards out to make the score 35-0 with 1:15 remaining in the half.
To start the second half, PCM had a running clock, Clarke had first possession of the football. But with a running clock, there was too little time to mount any kind of comeback. The Mustangs added a sixth touchdown in the second half.
In other area action, Lynnville-Sully kept its current streak of blowouts alive with a 49-0 rout of North Mahaska. Colfax-Mingo fell to Des Moines Christian, 19-14, giving the Lions their first victory of the season in district play. Collins-Maxwell-Baxter also fell by a 33-20 margin to Albia.
