Mt. Pleasant extends winning streak with victory over Valley

By: Paul Brittain
Friday, September 15, 2023 | 10:34 PM

One thing was certain on Friday night at Mount Pleasant Stadium: The Vikings were going to win.

The Mt. Pleasant Vikings (3-1) extended their winning streak to three games with a 25-6 victory over the visiting Valley Vikings (1-3).

The game was more of a battle than the final score reflected.

Valley unofficially outgained Mt. Pleasant, 339-319, and with the exception of one play, the entire third quarter was played in Mt. Pleasant territory.

But MP stood tall on defense, forcing four turnovers and blocking a punt.

Neither team could get much going on the first four possessions. But Mt. Pleasant struck quickly on its fifth possession when Jackson Hutter took a short pass from Cole Chatfield and rambled 63 yards down the left sideline to the end zone at 3 minutes, 54 seconds of the first quarter. The extra point try by Jarrett Garn was low to leave the score at 6-0.

Valley drove 55 yards on the next possession but a completed pass was fumbled and recovered by Mt. Pleasant’s Carter Strayer and returned to the Valley 32 to end the threat.

Valley dug in and held the hosts at the 25 and moved to the Mt. Pleasant 48 on a 13-yard reception by Darnell Coaston and a 12-yard run by Charles Perkins. But Garn and Luke Nicotera broke up passes deep in Mt. Pleasant territory, and, two plays later, Payton Schaum recovered a fumbled snap at the Valley 43.

Two plays later, Hutter galloped 36 yards down the left sideline to score for a 12-0 lead. The 2-point conversion try failed.

Valley then drove 37 yards to score after Coaston returned the kickoff 58 yards. It took nine plays, and Derek Hassim’s 7-yard touchdown catch at 4:19 made it 12-6 after the failed conversion attempt.

Valley had one more chance to score, but Nicotera intercepted a pass at the Mt. Pleasant 20 to end the threat.

Valley had the ball in Mt. Pleasant territory for 18 plays in the third quarter. But a Nicotera interception at the MP 18 and a goal-line stand four minutes later held Valley from further scoring.

Mt. Pleasant then drove 93 yards in 13 plays to score.

Hutter’s 39-yard reception on the final play of the quarter kept the drive alive and into Valley territory for the first time in the second half. He then ended the drive by scoring from 21 yards to extend the lead to 18-6.

Mt. Pleasant ended the scoring on Camden Moore’s 3-yard run with 6:43 left, and Garn’s conversion kick made it 25-6.

Next week, Mount Pleasant will host Freeport for the final nonconference game.

Tags: Mt. Pleasant, Valley