MANCHESTER — The Mount Pleasant High School football team, just as it has all season, battled to the very end before falling short in a 35-21 loss to West Delaware in a Class 3A first-round playoff game on Friday night.
The runner-up to Solon in Class 3 District 4, Mount Pleasant was down 14-0 to West Delaware in the second quarter.
Mount Pleasant responded with a rushing touchdown by senior Ramzy Davis, who also recovered a fumble and returned in 24 yards for a score as the Panthers knotted the game at 14.
“Our kids fought like crazy,” Mount Pleasant coach John Bowlin said. “We started the game with a drive and had a chance to score after a big play to the five. But we couldn’t punch it in.”
The Hawks then scored 21 unanswered points to go up 35-14 in the fourth quarter.
Mount Pleasant once again answered with a touchdown pass from Grayson Walker to Brody Clark, but the Panthers could get no closer.
Walker completed 13-of-16 passes for 188 yards. Davis rushed for 55 yards on 16 carries. Kaden Schaadt caught four passes for 87 yards, while Clark caught five passes for 58 yards and Isaiah Lange caught four passes for 43 yards.
Keegan Heaton also recovered a fumble for the Panthers, while Asa Rose intercepted a pass.
West Delaware (9-1) will play Dubuque Wahlert (8-2).
Other playoff scores from local districts were Mid-Prairie thumping Mediapolis 45-0 and Wilton routing West Branch 30-7 in Class 2A. Wilton (8-2) will play PCM (9-1). Mid-Prairie (9-1) will play Van Meter (8-2).
In 3A Solon (10-0) defeated Benton 31-6 and will play Winterset (7-3)