PV runs over Knights, who fall to 0-2
On Thursday, the Pleasant Valley football team took in a film.
Friday, the Spartans starred in a feature all their own.
Powered by a hard-charging running attack, PV handed Davenport Assumption a 21-18 loss.
The win was the Spartans’ first against the Knights since 1999. It also marked the first time since 1984 that Assumption began a season with consecutive losses.
It all started with PV watching tape of Assumption’s Week 1 loss to Burlington.
“That just got us jacked,” Spartans quarterback Kendall Stelk said. “For us, nobody was intimidated. We hit them hard.”
And kept on pounding.
Holding a 7-6 lead through two quarters, PV (1-1, 1-1 Mississippi Athletic Conference) collected 193 of its 286 rushing yards in the second half.
John Lindstrom ran in a
5-yard touchdown to open the scoring in the first quarter, and by the end of the third quarter, the Spartans had added two more scores. Ellis Robinson and Stelk each reached the end zone to pump the advantage to 21-6.
Robinson led the Spartans with 111 yards on 18 carries.
“It was all about being physical and running the ball,” PV coach Rusty VanWetzinga said. “Our backs ran hard, and we were great up front.”
Assumption (0-2, 0-2) stayed alive in the fourth with two touchdown passes from Sean Finn. But trailing 21-12, the Knights failed to run in a two-point conversion with less than seven minutes to play.
They got their final tally with 53 seconds remaining.
Ryan Byrne turned in another valiant effort for the Knights, rushing for 124 yards and a touchdown on 21 tries. Only 14 of those yards came after halftime, though, devastating Assumption’s offense.
“We’re going to have to figure out what we can do up front so our guys don’t get pushed around as much,” Knights coach Wade King said.
Finn was 9-of-15 for 77 yards for the Knights, who will try for their first win when they host Muscatine next Friday.
Andrew Petersen can be contacted at (563) 383-2288 or apetersen@qctimes.com.