Linn-Mar solves Pleasant Valley defense

MARION - Ryan Schmidt knew exactly what he was up against.

The Linn-Mar senior quarterback knew all about a Pleasant Valley defense that yielded just 9.4 points per game last season and seven in a season-opening loss to No. 10 North Scott. And after a first-half struggle with just 32 total yards, Schmidt and his mates found their edge.

Schmidt ran for 67 yards and three second-half scores as Linn-Mar overpowered Pleasant Valley, 21-14, in a non-district game last night at Linn-Mar Stadium.

'We struggled in the first half,” Schmidt said. 'They had a really good defense. ... In the second half we made some adjustments and came out with some fire in our bellies.”

Linn-Mar (2-0) trailed 7-0 at halftime before mounting a nine-play, 70-yard drive highlighted by a breathtaking 31-yard run from tailback Perrion Scott. Scott was seemingly hemmed in along the right sideline, but reversed his field, picked up a few blocks and raced down the opposite sideline to the 1-yard-line.

'Right when I saw the open lane, I just hit it,” said Scott, who ran for 81 yards on 12 carries. 'I just finished as hard as I could.”

Schmidt surged ahead for the tying score 1-play later, then added an 18-yard streak to the right pylon after a Logan Benter interception to give Linn-Mar a 14-7 lead. It was one of four turnovers forced for a defensive unit that surrendered 42 points a game last season.

'We had some kids do some gutsy things and play hard tonight,” Linn-Mar Coach Bob Forsyth said. 'I'm just really happy to have this win at home.”

Schmidt extended the lead to 21-7 with a naked bootleg from a yard out with 2:40 left. Fullback Brendon Bormann ran for 68 yards and a score in garbage time for Pleasant Valley, which fell to 0-2 after back-to-back 11-1 state quarterfinal seasons.

Linn-Mar travels to Clinton next week, and Pleasant Valley hosts rival Bettendorf.

l Comments: douglas.miles@sourcemedia.net

Linn-Mar 21, Pleasant Valley 14

AT LINN-MAR STADIUM

PV LM

First downs 15 13

Rushes-yards 40-172 37 - 165

Passing-yards 102 59

Comp-att-int 10-17-1 7-13-0

Punts-avg. 4-32.7 6-33.0

Fumbles-lost 3-3 0-0

Penalties-yards 2-25 2-7

Pleasant Valley 0 7 0 7 - 14

Linn-Mar 0 0 14 7 - 21

PV - Terry Saul 10 run (Nick Kelly kick)

LM - Ryan Schmidt 1 run (Sean Zimmerman kick)

LM - Schmidt 18 run (Zimmerman kick)

LM - Schmidt 1 run (Zimmerman kick)

PV - Brendon Bormann 1 run (Kelly kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - Pleasant Valley: Chase Kipper 16-28, Brendon Bormann 12-68, Tyler Flanders 2-11, Colin Banks 3-13, CJ Carter 4-26, Terry Saul 3-26; Linn-Mar: Logan Benter 4-14, Ryan Schmidt 19-67, Perrion Scott 12-81, Nolan Hollinger 1-2, Bryce Miller 1-1.

Passing - Pleasant Valley: Chase Kipper 10-17-1-102; Linn-Mar: Ryan Schmidt 7-13-0-59.

Receiving - Pleasant Valley: Brendon Bormann 1-3, Colin Lentz 2-32, Dallas Gill 1-1, Jacob Rockey 2-15, Kevin Stewart 3-44, CJ Carter 1-7; Linn-Mar: Trevor Noble 1-9, Perrion Scott 1-4, Bryce Miller 5-46.