Top-ranked PCM rides stout defense to Class 2A championship game

CEDAR FALLS — Last week’s second-half performance by the PCM defense was unacceptable, according to senior linebacker Isaac Telfer.

The Mustangs gave up 27 second-half points and allowed more than 300 total yards in the win over Williamsburg.

This week, the top-ranked Mustangs were out to show that effort is not the norm. The defense led PCM to the state championship game in Class 2A.

PCM’s defense forced three turnovers, collected three sacks and held West Liberty to 207 total yards during 27-0 victory in the state semifinals at the UNI-Dome on Nov. 10.

“We like to pride ourselves on having a good defense and we gave up way too many points last week,” Telfer said. “That was unacceptable. We broke down better, wrapped up and made some plays today.”

Telfer finished with 5 1/2 tackles and one tackle for loss on defense. He also caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from senior Reed Worth in the third quarter that put PCM up 24-0.

The Mustang defense, which was led by senior Brycen Rogers, had seven tackles for loss in the game. West Liberty had only 52 total yards and three first downs at halftime. The Comets’ gained 90 of their 207 yards on their final two drives, but both ended in interceptions.

“We had a chip. We always play with a chip. Last week kind of hit us in the mouth, and they made a lot of plays against us,” PCM senior cornerback Nick Dredge said. “We focused all week to tighten things up and not have another slip up.”

It was not the best offensive performance of the season for a PCM squad which came into the game with the top-ranked offense in 2A and averaging 49 points per game.

But the Mustangs still rushed for 210 yards and turned it over just once. Senior Wes Cummings had 149 rushing yards and a TD on 25 carries.

Cummings is now just 51 yards and two rushing TDs away from single-season school records. He’s now gained 1,583 yards and scored 23 rushing TDs this season.

“The only thing on my mind today was getting in the win column,” Cummings said. “The team played hard. This was a good team win.”

PCM is 12-0 for the first time in school history. The Mustangs advanced to the 2A championship game where they will face No. 2 Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley at 2 p.m. on Nov. 16.

The Nighthawks advanced to the championship game after a 48-12 win over third-ranked and defending champion Waukon.

“It’s awesome. We are really enjoying this moment,” PCM coach Greg Bonnett said. “I thought we came out and played well tonight. There are some things to clean up before next week, but right now we are going to live in the moment.”

Cummings got the scoring started with a 41-yard TD run with 4:56 to play in the first quarter. PCM turned it over on downs and Worth his fourth pick of the season on its first two drives, but the Mustangs needed only two plays to crack the scoreboard on their third possession.

All 43 yards were gained by Cummings on the ground.

West Liberty (8-4) only ran two plays on its next drive. The first play netted negative five yards, and then senior defensive end Cole Dustin forced a fumble when he sacked Comet quarterback Seth Feldman. Junior Seth Greiner jumped on the ball for the recovery.

Dustin missed last week’s game because of an ejection he got in the first round of the playoffs, but the senior put pressure on Feldman all night and finished with 3 1/2 tackles on the night.

“I was talking to (assistant) coach (Travis) Block and I told him I was trying to play good enough for two games since I couldn’t play last week,” Dustin said.

The Mustangs got the ball on the West Liberty 24-yard line and scored four plays later. Cummings gained the first 14 on the ground and then Worth hooked up with senior Brayton Van Dyke for a 10-yard TD. Van Dyke made a diving, over-the-shoulder catch on the play to put PCM up 14-0.

“I had to go and get it. Reed made a good throw,” Van Dyke said. “We have been practicing that play all throughout the week. Everyone did their part to get this win today.”

West Liberty picked up its first first down of the game on its next possession, but the Comets eventually turned it over on downs.

PCM punted for the first time in the game on its next possession, but got the ball back when it forced another punt by West Liberty.

The Mustangs began their next drive on their own 46-yard line. They got a 20-yard run by Cummings to open the possession and a 29-yard run by Worth on fourth and long gave the Mustangs another first down.

Cummings gained eight yards on his next three runs, but PCM had to settle for a field goal.

Sophomore Andrew Mitchell nailed a 27-yarder to put his team up 17-0, and the Mustangs went into halftime with the same margin. Mitchell suffered an injury in the game and did not kick in the second half.

“The cushion was nice, but we’re never relaxed,” Cummings said. “We felt good, but we needed to keep scoring.”

West Liberty got a first down on a five-yard run by Feldman on its first drive of the second half but turned it over on downs four plays later. Feldman gained no yards on fourth and one to give it back to the Mustangs.

PCM drove 46 yards in eight plays. Cummings gained seven yards on third and four to keep the drive alive and his 11 yards in the next two runs moved the chains again.

On third and nine, Worth found Telfer behind the defense down the middle of the field for an 18-yard TD pass. That put PCM up 24-0.

“I saw the safety shading more to the inside because we were running it well,” Telfer said. “I took it to the outside, and Reed delivered a good ball.”

West Liberty gained two first downs on its next drive, but PCM senior Andrew Van Ryswyk put the Comets behind the sticks with a sack. The Comets turned it over on downs three plays later.

The Mustangs started their next possession on their own 41-yard line. Cummings got 17 yards on the ground on the first play and then senior Jarron Trausch ran for 12 more on the next snap.

A holding call moved PCM back 10 yards, but Cummings gained 15 yards on the next play after catching a screen pass from Worth.

Trausch picked up eight yards to make third down manageable, and then senior Preston Van Wyk forced a pass interference call to move the chains.

The drive eventually stalled out, but Worth booted a 27-yard field goal to cap the scoring.

West Liberty’s final two drives netted more yards than nearly all the other drives combined. Feldman competed two passes for 42 yards on the first two plays of the first drive, but senior Chance Palm got a sack on first and long and then senior Payton Strovers snatched his third pick of the season on third-and-long pass attempt.

“We let them throw underneath and took away the deep stuff,” Dredge said. “We gave up some yards, but we didn’t want to give any points. We stuck our heels in the dirt. Kind of like Sparta.”

PCM’s biggest priority in the fourth quarter was to run as much as clock as possible with Cummings and Trausch in the backfield. The Mustangs went three and out on their next drive and punted for only the second time in the game.

West Liberty’s final possession of the game went for 56 yards in 11 plays. They got four first downs, but senior Olin Meinders finished off the win with his first interception of the season. The Mustangs now have 19 picks on the year.

“We made plays when we had to, were flying to the ball and playing physical all night,” Bonnett said about the defense. “We knew what we were doing.”

Rogers had a team-high 9 1/2 tackles and two tackles for loss to lead the defense. Palm added 6 1/2 tackles to his sack, and Trausch chipped in seven tackles in the win. Greiner had 4 1/2 tackles and Van Dyke finished with three tackles and a tackle for loss.

Worth finished 8-for-11 for 61 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 36 yards. Trausch rushed for 25 yards.

Feldman threw for 88 yards and rushed for 84 yards for West Liberty.

“It feels pretty good. Obviously we have some stuff to clean up, but I feel good, the team feels good and the fans feel good,” Cummings said. “We get to come back next week.”

West Liberty 0-0-0-0 — 0

PCM 14-3-7-3 — 27

PCM — Wes Cummings 41 run (Andrew Mitchell kick)

PCM — Brayton Van Dyke 10 pass from Reed Worth (Mitchell kick)

PCM — Mitchell 27 FG

PCM — Isaac Telfer 18 pass from Worth (Worth kick)

PCM — Worth 27 FG