PCM football ends season with quarterfinal loss to Wilton

MONROE — It was the tale of two halves for the PCM football team during its Class 2A quarterfinal matchup with Wilton on Friday night.

The No. 2 Mustangs led 10-0 after one quarter and improved the margin to 17-0 at halftime, but the Beavers rallied with a big second half during a 21-17 road win.

The Beavers locked up their second straight trip to the semifinals following a 13-point fourth quarter.

Lewis Daye Jr. put the Mustangs (9-2) in front with a touchdown run in the first quarter and Dominic Witt’s career-best 41-yard field goal made it 10-0.

Chase Wagaman added a short TD run in the second to build the lead to 17-0. It was 17-8 after three, but Wilton (9-2) got within three on a TD with 7:19 to play and then scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:36 left.

Wagaman finished 15-of-22 through the air for 160 yards and one interception and Daye Jr. rushed for 92 yards and one TD on 25 carries.

Wagaman added 51 rushing yards and one TD on 12 carries and Easton Morris ran for 38 yards on 12 carries and caught two passes for 17 yards.

The Mustangs ran for 181 yards but averaged only 3.7 yards per carry.

Gavin Steenhoek led the receivers with 85 yards on five catches. Jaden Houser grabbed a career-best six passes for 38 yards and Ivan Shannon’s only catch went for 18 yards.

Daye ran for 1,097 yards this fall, which ranks 10th in 2A. Steenhoek’s 848 receiving yards are currently fourth.

The defense was led by Jax Strait’s 10 tackles, while Trent Nickelson totaled a career-best 9.5 tackles and two tackles for loss.

Mason Hjortshoj contributed 6.5 tackles, Harrison Brinegar tallied six tackles, Braedyn Lester pitched in five tackles, Evan Jones had four tackles and Keegan Fenton, Wagaman and Shannon all produced three tackles.

Wagaman snagged two interceptions and Steenhoek had one. Wagaman currently leads 2A with eight picks and Steenhoek’s seven is second.

Witt booted three touchbacks on his four kickoffs, made both of his PATs and connected on his fifth field goal of the season, which ranks tied for first in 2A. His 65 touchbacks lead the class.

Gunner Edwards led Wilton with 192 passing yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Noah Gray ran for 80 yards and one TD on 13 carries, Hayden Hill added 68 yards on 13 carries and Bryer Putman caught five passes for 121 yards and two scores.

Gray, Hill and Thatcher Murguia all had 10 tackles to lead the Beaver defense.

Wilton takes a seven-game win streak in the 2A semifinals. The Beavers were in the 1A semifinals last season.