Mustangs make easy work of Albia

MONROE — Prairie City-Monroe football coach Greg Bonnett came into Friday night’s game without a win over Albia in his four years as a Mustang player and five years as the head coach.

In his sixth season as coach, that streak is now over, and it wasn’t even close.

The Mustangs jumped all over the Blue Demons early and pounded them into submission with a 52-6 triumph in the Class 2A District 6 opener on a rainy night here Friday.

“I thought the guys came out and did everything we asked them to do,” Bonnett said. “They came out with a lot of energy, physicality and focus.”

Sophomore Wes Cummings got all 109 of his rushing yards in the first half and scored on a 90-yard screen pass on the first play from scrimmage in the second half.

Senior Sheldon Speers threw for 192 yards and three scores, senior Luke Greiner hauled in five passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns and senior Clayton Welch wreaked havoc on the Albia defense all night long.

Cummings scored three rushing touchdowns in the first half to help the Mustangs gain a 45-0 lead at halftime.

“The guys all made plays tonight. It was an excited team at halftime. It was a really good feeling,” Bonnett said.

Albia, who did not have a first down until there was 3:45 left in the third quarter, scored for the first time this season when Kyle Sinnott rumbled 72 yards for a touchdown against PCM’s third-stringers in the fourth quarter.

Welch had three of PCM’s four sacks, 4.5 tackles, four tackles for loss and also recovered a fumble. Welch’s first sack resulted in a safety that put the Mustangs up 31-0 midway through the second quarter.

Greiner had a sack, fumble recovery and six tackles, while Isaac Telfer recovered a fumble and had 6.5 tackles. James Snodgrass finished with a team-high seven tackles and four tackles for loss.

Bonnett was 0-4 against Albia as PCM’s head coach prior to Friday’s win. In those games, the Blue Demons (0-3) outscored the Mustangs 174-54.

“It was a great experience. In the last few years, they beat us by 40 or more so it feels good to give it back to them,” two-way senior starter Leevi Telfer said. “It felt great to get Coach Bonnett that first win over Albia.”

Telfer is one of three Mustangs who are three-year starters on the offensive line. The other two are senior Ethan Thomas and Snodgrass. With the help of juniors Colton Warrick and Caden Lewis, PCM’s offensive line opened holes all night for Cummings and kept Speers upright in the passing game.

“This is one of the best lines in the state, hands down. I literally say thank you after every run,” said Cummings, who averaged 7.3 yards per carry in the win. “This feels amazing. I haven’t been around as long as the seniors, but seeing all of our leaders so excited is a great feeling. “

The Mustangs forced Albia into three consecutive three-and-outs in the first quarter. PCM turned the ball over on downs on its first possessions, but a four-play, 52-yard drive got the Mustangs on the board.

After Speers was sacked on the first play, Cummings went for seven and then Noah Clark hauled in a 25-yard pass for a first down. Cummings scored on the next play from 16 yards out.

Another three and out by Albia gave the ball back to PCM. This time, the Mustangs needed five plays to reach paydirt. All five plays were runs as Speers gained 26 yards on two carries and Cummings rumbled 23 yards on three carries. Cummings’ second score from 4 yards out made it 15-0.

Albia fumbled the ensuing kickoff. Two plays later, junior Noah Anderson made it 22-0 with a 9-yard TD run. PCM forced Albia into four turnovers. The Mustangs converted the four miscues into 21 points.

The Blue Demons’ next possession featured three negative yardage plays. The third snap from scrimmage was fumbled, and the Mustangs recovered.

PCM started with the ball on the Albia 19-yard and needed five plays to extend its lead. Cummings dove over the goal line with 6:49 to play in the first half to put his team up 29-0.

Welch made it 31-0 when he tackled Albia quarterback Cade Crall in the end zone on the Blue Demons’ next possession. The first play on the drive resulted in a 4-yard loss.

“Coach (James) Nolin really stresses to me to read my keys, and that’s what I did. After that you just go to the ball and play the game,” Welch said. “This feels pretty good. I have never beaten this team in my high school career.”

The Mustangs started their next possession, after the Albia punt, on the Blue Demons’ 45-yard line and Speers hooked up with Greiner for a 45-yard touchdown pass.

Welch ended Albia’s next possession with a sack and then recovered a fumbled on the Blue Demons’ final possession of the first half.

“He is a heck of a football player. He makes a ton of plays. I am glad that kid is on our side,” Bonnett said about Welch.

PCM turned that turnover into more points as Speers found Greiner on a fade route to the back of the end zone. That was the final play of the first half, and it gave the Mustangs a 45-0 lead at the half.

The wide margin kicked in the continuous clock in the second half. The only points PCM scored in the final two quarters came on the first play of the second half.

Cummings received a screen pass from Speers on a drive that started at PCM’s 10-yard line. Cummings patiently waited for his blocks downfield and then got loose down the sideline for a 90-yard touchdown.

The other highlight of the second half was Telfer carrying the ball as a fullback in the closing minutes.

“It was pretty fun. Bonnett told me that he wanted to be up by enough for me to run the ball, and we were up by enough I guess,” Telfer said. “The last time I touched the ball was a 27-yard TD against West Marshall in a JV game.”

The Mustangs return to district action at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Centerville.