October 06, 2024

PCM football makes quick work of Vinton-Shellsburg on Senior Night

Mustangs score on first three offensive plays against Vikings

By Troy Hyde
Gavin DeRaad Braedyn Lester

PCM senior Gavin DeRaad, right, celebrates a defensive play with junior Braedyn Lester (65) during the Mustangs' dominating win over Vinton-Shellsburg on Friday. PCM stayed unbeaten and clinched a playoff spot following the 52-8 home win. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

MONROE — The Class 2A No. 2 PCM football team scored touchdowns on its first three plays from scrimmage, blocked two punts in the first quarter and dominated Vinton-Shellsburg 52-8 on Friday night.

The Mustangs led 31-0 after one and scored all 52 points in the first half to stay unbeaten on Senior Night.

The 2A District 6 victory clinches a playoff berth for PCM. The Mustangs improved to 6-0 and are outscoring opponents 303-50 this season.

Riley Graber Gavin Steenhoek

PCM junior Gavin Steenhoek (7) celebrates a first-quarter touchdown with senior Riley Graber during the Mustangs' home win over Vinton-Shellsburg on Friday. Graber caught two TD passes in the victory, too. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

Adrien Robbins went 68 yards to paydirt on PCM’s very first offensive play and the hosts never trailed.

Trenner Van Dyke blocked Vinton-Shellsburg’s first two punts and the Mustangs turned them into quick points.

Robbins made it 14-0 with a 13-yard TD run and then Gavin Van Gorp connected with Riley Graber on a 12-yard TD pass.

After another three-and-out from the Mustang defense, the offense scored in two plays with Gavin Steenhoek catching a 19-yard TD pass from Van Gorp.

Dominic Witt booted a 40-yard field goal at the end of the first. Robbins scored on a 72-yard touchdown run in the second and Graber grabbed a 26-yard TD catch to cap the Mustangs’ scoring.

Evan Jones also scored on a short TD run with 4:10 to go until halftime.

Adrien Robbins

PCM senior Adrien Robbins uses a block from freshman Hayden Shannon (70) after making his only catch of the night during the Mustangs' 52-8 win over Vinton-Shellsburg on Friday. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

Vinton-Shellsburg’s only points came on an Alex Bramow 7-yard run and a Bramow two-point conversion run with 1:04 to go in the game.

The Mustangs (6-0, 3-0 in the district) out-gained the Vikings 400-151. PCM’s varsity offense ran only 20 plays.

PCM has scored at least 52 points in five of its six games. Vinton-Shellsburg is being outscored 269-24 this fall. The Vikings (0-6, 0-3) rushed for 49 yards on 27 carries.

Robbins led PCM with 237 yards and three TDs on 10 carries. He also had a 14-yard catch.

Robbins ranks third in 2A with 1,064 rushing yards despite ranking only 20th in carries. His 11.7 yards per carry leads 2A and his 13 rushing TDs are third.

Van Gorp finished 6-of-8 through the air for 82 yards and three scores. His 22 TDs ranks second in 2A and his 14 passing touchdowns rank second.

Brevin DeRaad

PCM senior Brevin DeRaad (26) makes the tackle despite being blocked at the line of scrimmage against Vinton-Shellsburg on Friday. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

Jones gained 42 yards and scored one TD on six carries, Chase Wagaman ran for 25 yards on two carries and Steenhoek caught a 19-yard TD.

Graber’s two catches went for 38 yards and two scores. He leads 2A with eight receiving TDs and is tied for seventh with 411 yards on only 16 catches.

The Mustangs ran for 318 yards and averaged 14.5 yards per carry in the win. They had a 15-7 advantage in first downs.

Tad Wilson led the defense with five tackles and one sack, Brevin DeRaad tallied five tackles and Easton VanVeen and Jones both chipped in four tackles.

Finn Wilson collected three tackles, Kaden Clark contributed 2.5 tackles, Tucker Wheeler had one sack and Steenhoek snagged one interception.

Witt’s 40-yard field goal is the sixth longest in 2A this season. He was 7-of-7 in PATs and booted eight of his nine kickoffs for touchbacks. His 39 touchbacks are the most in 2A.