PCM’s Burns makes it official with William Penn football

MONROE — Sage Burns plays football with a gigantic chip on his shoulder.

He has to do that because he plays for a Mustang football team that has plenty of athletes ready to take his starting spot.

Burns lost his quarterback job as a junior only to get it back by the end of the season. And as a senior, Burns started as the backup running back only to be inserted as the starter midway through the season because of an injury.

No matter what role Burns has had for PCM’s football team, he has come through in a big way.

And after a successful prep career, Burns made his collegiate plans official recently when he signed a National Letter of Intent to play football for NAIA William Penn University.

“I like the atmosphere. I found a college that seems excited for me to be there and it seems like a great place to play football,” Burns said.

Burns said he also visited Simpson College and chose the Statesmen over the Storm.

The plan is for Burns is to start out as a running back. But he also has the skill set to play fullback for a William Penn offense that runs the ball a lot.

“He’s a tweener, but he’s got the size and toughness to play fullback and enough speed to play the slot back,” William Penn Recruiting Coordinator Aaron Hinnah said. “Once we get him here and running through the offense, we’ll find what best fits his skill set, what helps us the most and what allows him to get on the field.”

In his time as quarterback during the 2019 season, Burns threw for 619 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 779 yards and 17 scores. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry and helped the Mustangs win a playoff game and finish 8-3.

As a senior, he took over as the primary back for the injured Aidan Anderson midway through the season and rushed for 964 yards and 16 scores. He averaged eight yards per carry and helped the Mustangs to a 10-1 season.

“I am a big fan of Iowa kids. They are hard-working kids,” Hinnah said. “I was at the Pella Christian game this past year. And you can always tell when certain kids can play. Sage is not the biggest burner, but he’s one heck of a tough player. He plays with great intensity. He doesn’t jump off the screen from a highlights standpoint but when you see him in person you know that’s a kid we want.”

Burns was the backup running back against Pella Christian but he still produced 57 rushing yards and three TDs on nine carries.

His best game of the season came against Clarke when he ran for 222 yards and three scores.

In the Mustangs’ four playoff games, Burns ran for more than 400 yards. He ran for 114 yards against Waukon in the UNI-Dome in the state semifinals.

“I have always had to show that I need to be on the field. I definitely play with a chip on my shoulder,” Burns said. “(PCM football coach Greg) Bonnett thinks WP needs a guy like me down there. Hopefully we can get some more of us, too. They run the ball a lot. That’s all I know.”

Hinnah said William Penn runs a triple option style offense like the current Army and Navy teams and the Nebraska Cornhusker teams of the 1980s and 1990s.

“Our strength program is phenomenal and if we get a kid who wants to work, they can make him into an all-conference type of player and I think that’s what Sage can be,” Hinnah said.

Burns is undecided on a major.