Mustangs gallop past West Liberty in postseason opener

MONROE — Chase Wagaman accounted for four touchdowns, Easton Morris led a rushing attack that eclipsed 300 yards and the PCM football team routed West Liberty during the opening round of the Class 2A playoffs on Friday.

The 2A No. 2 Mustangs scored half of their points in the second quarter during a 42-8 home win. It was PCM’s seventh straight victory.

PCM and West Liberty played for the first time since meeting in the state semifinals during the Mustangs’ run to the championship in 2018.

This year’s path to the UNI-Dome includes a second-round matchup with rival Pella Christian. PCM hosts the Eagles (3-6) at 7 p.m. on Friday in Monroe.

The Mustangs led 7-0 after one quarter as Morris scored on a 19-yard TD run with 3:41 to play in the frame. He ran the ball a career-high 29 times and gained a career-best 188 yards and totaled one touchdown in the win.

Wagaman was part of all three second-quarter touchdowns. The Mustangs led 28-0 at halftime following a 20-yard TD pass from Wagaman to Gavin Steenhoek and a pair of short touchdown runs from Wagaman.

Ryker Clark scored the only touchdown in the third on a 2-yard run and then Wagaman hooked up with Jaden Houser on a 22-yard TD pass play in the fourth.

West Liberty’s only points came with 5:22 to play in the game. Briggs Collins scored on an 11-yard TD run and then the Comets (3-6) added a two-point conversion.

The Mustangs have posted eight wins or more in three straight seasons and in six of the past eight. PCM won a playoff game for the third straight year, too.

Wagaman was 6-of-10 through the air for 69 yards and two touchdowns and he ran for 42 yards and two scores on seven carries.

Clark gained 72 yards and scored one TD on a career-high 20 carries, Houser grabbed three passes for a career-high 34 yards and one TD and Steenhoek snagged two catches for 31 yards and one TD.

Wagaman’s 27 total touchdowns rank tied for fifth in 2A and his 19 passing TDs are eighth.

Steenhoek has 688 receiving yards, which ranks sixth in the class. His 11 receiving TDs are fourth.

Evan Jones posted six tackles, Mason Hjortshoj totaled 4.5 tackles and Keegan Fenton contributed two tackles for loss and two sacks. Fenton’s 10 sacks lead 2A and his 18 tackles for loss are fifth.

Braedyn Lester and Trent Nickelson also each had one sack, Wagaman snagged one interception and Dominic Witt booted five touchbacks on his seven kickoffs.

Wagaman’s six picks are tied for tops in 2A, while Witt’s 57 touchbacks also lead the class.

PCM is part of Pod B in the 2A playoffs. The winner of the Mustangs-Eagles matchup gets the winner of Wilton (7-2) and West Branch (7-2) in the quarterfinals.

The Mustangs defeated Pella Christian, 58-27, in the district opener on Sept. 19.