March 28, 2024

PCM football locks up 3 seed after road win over Roland-Story

Mustangs rush for 270 yards against the Norse

STORY CITY — Carson VandeLune started the season as the Mustangs’ starting quarterback. But after a slow start, the coaching staff made a change, moving VandeLune to receiver.

Another slow start offensively last week against Chariton prompted another change, this time pushing VandeLune back to the team’s signal caller.

The senior quarterback finished that game 8-of-8 and led the Mustangs to a big road win.

VandeLune stayed in the lineup against Roland-Story on Friday night and his 8-of-9 effort through the air helped PCM’s football team to a 43-20 road triumph over the Norse.

The win secured the No. 3 seed out of Class 2A District 7 for PCM. And sets up a playoff road matchup with Clarinda (4-4) at 7 p.m. on Friday.

PCM (4-4 overall, 3-2 in the district) led 8-0 after one quarter and outscored the Norse 14-0 in the third. The Mustangs outscored Roland-Story (3-5, 2-3) 21-20 in the other two periods.

Aidan Anderson began the scoring for PCM with a 4-yard touchdown run in the first. VandeLune hit Jake Eslinger for the two-point conversion to make it 8-0.

Anderson finished with 101 rushing yards and two scores on 14 carries and also had two catches for 50 yards and another TD.

In the second, Kaden Hale made it 15-0 with a 5-yard TD run. Hale gained 53 yards on eight carries and had a 25-yard catch.

VandeLune connected with Matt Rosonke for two TD passes later in the second period. The first one covered 5 yards and PCM went up 29-14 at halftime following a 52-yard strike with 37 seconds to go in the first half.

VandeLune threw his third TD in the game when he connected with Anderson on a 45-yard TD pass on the first play of the second half.

Following a VandeLune interception, Anderson reached paydirt from 45 yards out on the second play of the half.

VandeLune finished 8-of-9 for 155 yards and three scores. Rosonke had three catches for 67 yards and two TDs. Griffin Olson hauled in two passes for 13 yards.

The Mustangs rushed for 270 yards and averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Adrian Robbins chipped in 100 yards on 13 carries.

VandeLune and Trey Brodersen both had interceptions for the Mustang defense and Durant Van Dyke recovered a fumble.

Brodersen and Cade Lindsay had five tackles each, Will Oelmann registered four tackles and Donovan Nickelson added three tackles and two tackles for loss.

William Vanderpool had 3 1/2 tackles and Eslinger collected three tackles.

Tyler Kuecker was 5-of-5 in extra points, booted one touchback and averaged 34.5 yards on his two punts.