March 28, 2024

PCM football drops third straight, shut out by IF-A

Mustangs fail to score for first time since 2013

IOWA FALLS — The Mustangs’ offense continued to struggle during the Class 2A District 7 opener against Iowa Falls-Alden on Friday night.

PCM’s football team was shut out for the first time since Oct. 30, 2013, during a 16-0 loss to the Cadets. The Mustangs have lost three straight games for the first time since 2014.

Iowa Falls-Alden got a 26-yard field goal from Ivan Orozco late in the first half to put the Cadets up 3-0 at halftime.

In the second half, Gabe Hadwiger rushed for a pair of touchdowns to help host IF-A pull away.

Hadwiger gained 147 rushing yards on 25 carries and the Cadets gained 202 on the ground in all.

The Mustangs were only out-gained 243-233 and had a better yards per play average but turned it over three times and committed 12 penalties in the loss.

Iowa Falls-Alden (2-2 overall, 1-0 in the district) held the ball for 11 minutes longer than the Mustangs and also were 6-of-17 on third and fourth down. PCM (1-3, 0-1) converted just 1-of-14 on third and fourth down.

Gavin Van Gorp made his first career start at quarterback and finished 7-of-16 for 71 yards and two interceptions.

Kaden Hale rushed for a career-high 123 yards on nine carries to lead the offense. Adrian Robbins had two carries for 11 yards and two catches for 27 yards and Aidan Anderson tallied one catch for 18 yards and gained 10 yards on eight carries.

Jacob Eslinger caught one pass for 14 yards, Matt Rosonke had two catches for eight yards and Carson VandeLune had one catch for four yards.

Donovan Nickelson led the defense with 8 1/2 tackles, while Cade Lindsay had 7 1/2 tackles. Rosonke chipped in five tackles and Jake Eslinger and Aydan Camu tallied 4 1/2 tackles.

Pella Christian 21, PCM 7

MONROE — PCM drew even with Pella Christian following a VandeLune 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter on Sept. 10.

The Mustangs couldn’t hold their momentum though as the Class 1A No. 6 Eagles responded with a 68-yard touchdown pass on the first play of their next possession.

That gave Pella Christian the lead and the Eagles went to win 21-7.

“I think we are a good football team, but we just don’t have much production on offense right now,” PCM football coach Greg Bonnett said during a postgame interview on 92.1 KRLS. “We can’t score seven points and expect to win. We have to somehow re-invent our offense.”

Anderson returned to the Mustangs’ lineup and rushed for 138 yards on 26 carries. He also had a team-high 42 receiving yards on a pair of receptions.

August Stock also made his season debut at quarterback but was injured again in the first quarter and did not return.

The Eagles (4-0) scored seven points in each of the first three quarters and that was enough to stay unbeaten.

Isaac Kacmarynski led the Eagles with 135 passing yards, 49 rushing yards and one touchdown on offense. On defense, he tallied 9 1/2 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks and two tackles for loss.

It was Kacmarynski’s 68-yard TD pass to Drew Geetings with 3:45 to play in the first half that gave the Eagles the lead for good.

Geetings finished with three catches for 115 yards. Benny Schirz also rushed for 89 yards and two scores.

PCM (1-3) forced three turnovers but was out-gained 273-257. The Mustangs rushed for 167 yards.

VandeLune was 3-of-6 through the air for 37 yards.

Will Oelmann led the defense with 7 1/2 tackles, while Cade Lindsay had seven tackles. Durant Van Dyke chipped in six tackles and Camu and Ayden Helton contributed four tackles.