March 28, 2024

Sixth-ranked Mustangs, No. 8 Wolverines play for spot in Dome

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Everything the Prairie City-Monroe football team did against Roland-Story in the playoff opener will have to be done even better against Dike-New Hartford on Friday.

The sixth-ranked Mustangs’ defense stopped the Norse’s strong running game and the offense piled up 558 yards of offense.

The No. 8 Wolverines, however, come in with a better running back and with a team that defeated Roland-Story, 42-3, during district play.

Dike-New Hartford has the top rusher in Iowa in Trent Johnson. There’s no secret as to what the Wolverines will try to do.

“I think it is a matter of our defensive line and linebackers playing very physical and getting everybody to the football,” PCM coach Greg Bonnett said.

The Mustangs (9-1) and Wolverines (8-2) are playing for a spot in the Class 2A semifinals and a trip to the UNI-Dome. Kick off is set for 7 p.m. Friday in Monroe.

Johnson leads all classes in rushing with 2,433 yards and is second in rushing touchdowns with 34. He is averaging 8.8 yards per rush, and he gained 201 yards on 31 carries in the win against Roland-Story back on Oct. 7.

“I think Roland-Story got beaten up physically by D-NH’s offensive line. That was their downfall,” Bonnett said.

Johnson set the all-time record for career rushing yards in the state last week with his 424-yard performance against Southeast Valley in the Wolverines’ first playoff game. That put Johnson, who was the 1A runner-up at 145 pounds last year during wrestling season, at 7,164 career rushing yards.

Johnson had 314 rushing yards the week before against East Marshall. He has totaled at least 200 yards five times this season. The two lowest rushing totals of the season, 133 and 147, came in the Wolverines’ two non-district losses to Class 1A No. 3 Denver and Class A No. 2 Gladbrook-Reinbeck.

“(Johnson) is not going to go down with one guy on him so we need several guys hitting and stripping the ball,” Bonnett said.

As good as Johnson has been this season, PCM’s offense has been pretty good, too.

The Mustangs come into Friday averaging 46 points per game.

Quarterback Sheldon Speers ranks first in 2A and tied for third overall in touchdown passes with 30. His 2,244 passing yards ranks third in 2A and eighth overall, and his 74.5 completion percentage also leads the state.

Speers’ favorite receiver is, Luke Greiner, leads the state in TD passes with 18, ranks third in 2A with 1,031 receiving yards and is second in 2A with 51 catches.

The Mustangs’ running has had a good year, too. Sophomore Wes Cummings went beyond the 1,000-yard mark for the season last week. He’s scored 15 rushing touchdowns and also has 404 receiving yards and two more TDs.

The one negative for PCM this week is the fact that junior Noah Anderson won’t play after injuring his ankle in the win over Roland-Story.

“Offensively, we feel like we have a few more threats (than R-S) and we will have to take advantage of what their defense is going to give us,” Bonnett said.

The Wolverines’ defense will challenge PCM’s talented offensive line. Dike-New Hartford has 27 sacks, six interceptions and 68 tackles for loss on defense in 10 games this season.

The toughest player to block will be Ben Latusek, who ranks second in 2A with 11 sacks and third in tackles for loss with 17.

Latusek also has 45.5 tackles. Reeve Wheat has 45 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and six sacks.

“I think our offensive line will be up for the challenge,” Bonnett said. “They have watched enough film to know what they are up against. It will be their biggest test of the year so far, and I think they know that and are preparing for that.”

Other players who impact the Wolverines’ defense include Nick Durnin (75.5 tackles) and Clayton Mapel (two interceptions).

Durnin and Mapel are two playmakers along with Johnson on the offensive side of the ball, too.

Mapel leads the receivers with 23 catches, 304 yards and four TDs, while Durnin has 19 catches, 287 yards and three scores.

Mapel is a threat in special teams with two punt return touchdowns this season.

Cade Fuller has thrown for 585 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception.

Speaking of special teams, the Wolverines hope to use their kicker, Isaac Jorgensen, as a weapon on kickoffs. Of Jorgensen’s 61 kickoffs, 31 have gone for touchbacks.

The Mustangs have only punted 12 times this season. The defense is allowing 8.3 points per game but only 4.55 during the nine-game winning streak.

Leading the way defensively are Clayton Welch, James Snodgrass and Greiner.

Welch has 12 tackles for loss, five sacks and two fumble recoveries, Greiner comes into the game with 11 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries and Snodgrass has 11 tackles for loss.

The Mustangs’ defense has 13 interceptions on the year. Speers (4) and Nick Dredge (3) have combined to grab seven of them.

The Wolverines, who reached the 1A semifinals last year, have won eight straight games.

Denver (25-22) and Gladbrook-Reinbeck (17-14) defeated Dike-New Hartford by a combined six points.