Game blog: Pleasant Valley at Linn-Mar

MARION - It's the last game at Armstrong Field. No. 8 Linn-Mar (7-2) opens the playoffs as the No. 7 seed, facing the No. 10 seed Pleasant Valley (5-4). The Spartans were 4th in the MAC. The Lions finished second behind Iowa City High in the MVC Mississippi Division.

We're minutes from kickoff. It's cold, windy and some spitting rain. Not many fans from Pleasant Valley and Linn-Mar's stands aren't full. Mid-week games and bad weather is probably hurting attendance.

Linn-Mar deferred after winning the toss. Will be interested to see how the MAC and MVC compare.

PV's opening drive is stuffed. Maurice Terrell carries three times for -7 yards. Linn-Mar takes over on own 38. Mark Atwater keeps the ball, runs up the middle and dashes for 62-yd. TD. If these opening series are indicative of the matchup, this will be a long night.

PV drives a bit, but stalls at Linn-Mar 30. They try to punt and pin Linn-Mar deep, but Ian McBrayer comes through, stretches out, blocks the punt, stumbles, scoops it and runs 58 yards for a TD. Linn-Mar 14-0 with 6:17 to go in first.

Garman bursts up the middle for a 38-yd TD run and a 21-0 Linn-Mar lead with 2:34 to go in the first. That run capped a 4-play, 57-yard drive. 21-0 Linn-Mar lead.

Garman adds another TD run, this time going in from 4 yards out.

Pleasant valley fumbles a pitch and Linn-Mar recovers at PV 18. A couple plays later Atwater hits McBrayer for an 18-yd TD score. 35-0 6:54 to go in 2nd.

Garman runs in from 34 yards out, breaking about five tackles and reaching the endzone for a 42-0 Linn-Mar lead with 4:55 to go in the first half.

Lions take over on downs at their own 40 with a couple minutes before halftime. Linn-Mar runs five plays, including two incomplete passes and makes it a 49-0 game on another Jer Garman 34-yard TD run.

I figured Linn-Mar would win handily but this is crazy.