Prep football rewind: Montezuma forfeits to PCM

CEDAR RAPIDS — When you've got a school forfeiting a game in Week 2 because of a manpower shortage, that's eyebrow raising. When that school made the playoffs last season and has a history of success, that's rather alarming.

Montezuma made the decision to forfeit its game Friday night at Prairie City-Monroe because of a rash of early season injuries. The Braves won their opener last week against BGM, 21-9, but that victory came at a price.

'We have a very proud tradition of football here in Montezuma,' said Montezuma Principal/Athletics Director Brian Moretz. 'Our coach, Coach (Tyler) Baethke, is a fiery guy, a fighter. It was not an easy decision.'

Moretz said Montezuma began the season with 29 players but would have had only 21 available against PCM. The majority of those 21 were freshmen and sophomores.

PCM is a Class 2A school, by the way, ranked sixth by The Gazette. Montezuma went 8-3 last season, losing to eventual champ Gladbrook-Reinbeck in the quarterfinals of the Class A state playoffs.

Also a playoff team in 2016, PCM beat Montezuma last season, 34-12.

'If we were healthy, we were going over there,' Moretz said. I don't want people to think we were trying to run away from a 2A school in PCM. They have a good program, we understand that. But if we could have fielded a team and felt we were going to go over there and play a good game, we would have played.'

Moretz said the school is in a wait-and-see mode as far as the remainder of the season. Montezuma is scheduled to begin district play next week at Pekin.

District 6 mate Danville played three games last season before forfeiting the rest of its season, including a game against Montezuma. Danville does not have a team this season.

'If we'd have been able to have coaches and ADs able suit up, we'd have been fine,' Moretz said, light-heartedly. 'We are going to do our darndest to make sure we finish out our season. Last year, we had this happen to us in the middle of the season (with Danville). I think what Coach and I are going to do is try anything and everything we can (to finish out). Even if some of the kids have to play in a little pain, we're going to try and get a team fielded. Let's hope that we can play.'

LISBON, NEW COACH 2-0

Phil Whitman might want to quit while he's ahead, retire with an undefeated career record. He took over the Lisbon program this season and has his Lions 2-0 after a 46-0 shellacking Friday night of North Cedar. In fact, Lisbon hasn't been scored upon in its first two games.

'We have played very physically on defense the first two games,' Whitman said.

Whitman was an assistant for 11 years for the highly successful Kent Allison before getting the head job after Allison surprised a few people by stepping down in the summer. One of those surprised was Whitman.

'Yes, I was,' he said. 'But that stuff is strictly between me and him.'

Lisbon got 156 yards passing and a touchdown from quarterback Jake Jennett against North Cedar. Three different running backs each had between 82 and 89 yards rushing, scoring a combined four TDs.

Lisbon begins Class A district play next week against Starmont (0-2).

'For me, it's really been nothing different,' Whitman said. 'I spent 11 years as an assistant coach for Kent. We're still very close, talk a lot. Our offensive coordinator was with Kent for 10 years. We don't do much different. We are running the same stuff pretty much.'

HERE AND THERE

• Dallas Center-Grimes beat Class 3A top-ranked Pella, 10-7, Friday night for the Dutch's first loss in 42 games. Pella, held to under 200 total yards, has won three consecutive 3A state championships.

• Running back Henry Hoogland scored five touchdowns on only 10 carries in Springville's 58-14 win over Meskwaki Settlement School. Hoogland finished with 148 yards.

• File this under an incredible reversal of fortune. West Liberty blasted Highland, 62-7, Friday night. That was the exact opposite of last year's games between the schools. Highland won that one, 50-14.

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com