Area Football: PCM welcomes Saydel for homecoming

There will be plenty of distractions for Prairie City-Monroe’s football team when the Mustangs face Saydel for a Class 2A District 8 contest at 7 p.m. on Friday night.

It’s the school’s homecoming. It’s the first varsity game on PCM’s new turf field and inside the new stadium. And the Mustangs are now ranked ninth in2A after three straight wins.

“I am not concerned about the (non-football stuff),” PCM coach Greg Bonnett said. “I honestly don’t think our guys remember what it’s like to play a game at home. All they know is that we have a nice practice field. They have forgotten how awesome it is to walk down those stairs and swarm the field. I am excited for them and everybody who gets to be a part of the opening on homecoming.”

PCM’s opponent, Saydel, has been shut out three times this season and is only scoring four points per game while surrending 48. The Eagles come into the game 0-5 overall and 0-1 in district play.

The Mustangs (4-1 overall, 1-0 in district play) have won 21 straight district games. Their last loss came against Albia on Oct. 16 back in 2015.

“Saydel is a little banged up right now so we really don’t know if they are going to change some schemes or personnel so we have to be ready to play sound football,” Bonnett said. “We know they are going to try to set up play action with the run game and utilize motions to get numbers. Other than that, it’s a wait and see deal.”

PCM’s defense is allowing 13.25 points per game since defeating Newton 29-28 in the opening week of the season.

The defense is headlined by Seth Greiner (34 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks) and Colby Tool (36 tackles, four tackles for loss and one sack).

The Mustangs are scoring 25.6 points per game since Sage Burns moved to running back and August Stock was inserted at quarterback.

Burns leads the offense with 387 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.

“I think the personnel changes were necessary to improve the offense immediately plus give us something we can really improve with as times goes on,” Bonnett said.

The Mustangs will break in their new turf field on Friday night. Besides the field itself, the stadium also features a new press box, new bleachers on both sides of the field and a video board with a sound system.

“I think the anticipation has built and it’s finally time,” Bonnett said. “We did the right thing by not opening it until it was ready but now it’s time to get it going. We have a sports marketing class that has created some neat things for the video board, and I know people are excited about that.”

Twin Cedars (1-5, 0-3) at Baxter (2-4, 1-2), 7 p.m.

The Bolts’ homecoming game is against a Twin Cedars team which defeated them 66-64 last year. The Sabers though are allowing nearly 38 points per game and scoring only 14 per game in their five losses this season.

Cole Damman leads Baxter with 819 passing yards, 528 rushing yards and 22 total touchdowns on offense. He also leads the defense with 38 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and one fumble recovery.

Rory Heer has 324 rushing yards, a team-high 33 catches for 376 yards and nine combined TDs for the Bolts. Jake Travis has 38.5 tackles, two sacks and one fumble recovery for the Bolts’ defense.

Dallas Clark is Twin Cedars’ quarterback and he has 532 passing yards and four TDs. Brayden DenBurger has gained 308 yards on the ground. Kade Dunkin is the best all around player with 29 catches for 312 yards on offense and 59 tackles, one sack, three picks and a fumble recovery on defense.

Interstate 35 (2-3, 0-1) at Colfax-Mingo (2-3, 0-1), 7 p.m.

Interstate 35 is averaging more than 40 points per game in its two wins but only scoring 6.7 points per game in the three losses. Defensively, the Roadrunners are surrendering three points per game in the wins and 12 points per contest in the losses.

Colfax-Mingo looks to even its overall record and claim its first district win at home on Friday night. The Tigerhawks are scoring 36 points per game and allowing almost 35 points per game.

Trystin Ross headlines this year’s Tigerhawks team. He ranks first in Class 1A with 10 receiving TDs, is second with 43 catches and sits third with 524 receiving yards. Defensively, Ross leads C-M with 36.5 tackles.

Brady Berkey’s 1,104 passing yards ranks third in 1A and his 14 passing TDs is tied for third. Jayden Horrach has 648 rushing yards, which ranks eighth in 1A.

Lynnville-Sully (0-6, 0-1) at Central Decatur (2-4, 1-0), 7 p.m.

Both Lynnville-Sully and Central Decatur had their best offensive and defensive outputs of the season last week. The Hawks couldn’t quite hold off Wayne in their district opener, while the Cardinals started district play with a win.

L-S scored a season-high 28 points against Wayne but lost 34-28. The 34 points allowed was a season low for the Hawks. Central Decatur’s 50 points against North Mahaska was a season high. while the 12 points allowed were a season low.

Ethan Wyma leads the Lynnville-Sully offense with 273 rushing yards. The defense is led by Slater Young, who has 39.5 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks.

Cole Pedersen headlines Central Decatur with 572 passing yards, 358 rushing yards and nine combined TDs.

Haden Leymaster ranks first in Class A with 550 receiving yards and eight receiving TDs and is second in catches with 39. Leymaster’s also returned a kickoff for a touchdown.