The PCM Mustangs” season came to a disappointing end on Friday night as they fell to the Wilton Beavers in the Class 2A quarterfinals, losing 21-17 despite holding a commanding 17-point lead at halftime.
Playing at home in Monroe, the No. 2 ranked Mustangs started strong, taking a 10-0 lead after the first quarter. Lewis Daye Jr. opened the scoring with a touchdown run, and Dominic Witt added a career-best 41-yard field goal to extend the lead. Chase Wagaman contributed with a short touchdown run in the second quarter, pushing the score to 17-0 at halftime.
However, the Beavers, also with a record of 9-2, staged a remarkable comeback in the second half. They scored a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, narrowing the deficit to 17-8. With just over seven minutes remaining, Wilton added another touchdown, bringing them within three points. In a dramatic finish, they secured the game-winning touchdown with only 1:36 left on the clock.
Wagaman finished the game completing 15 of 22 passes for 160 yards, although he did throw one interception. Daye Jr. had a strong performance on the ground, rushing for 92 yards and one touchdown on 25 attempts. Wagaman also contributed with 51 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Easton Morris added 38 rushing yards on 12 carries and caught two passes for 17 yards.
The Mustangs managed to accumulate 181 rushing yards in total, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. Gavin Steenhoek was the standout receiver, amassing 85 yards on five receptions. Jaden Houser had a career-high six catches for 38 yards, while Ivan Shannon caught one pass for 18 yards.
Defensively, Jax Strait led the Mustangs with 10 tackles. Trent Nickelson had a career-best 9.5 tackles along with two tackles for loss. Mason Hjortshoj contributed 6.5 tackles, and several others made notable contributions, including Harrison Brinegar, Braedyn Lester, Evan Jones, and Keegan Fenton, who each recorded multiple tackles. Wagaman and Steenhoek also showcased their defensive skills with interceptions, with Wagaman leading the 2A classification with eight picks this season.
On special teams, Witt excelled with three touchbacks on his four kickoffs and successfully made both of his extra-point attempts. He connected on his fifth field goal of the season, which ranks tied for first in the 2A category, and his 65 touchbacks lead the class.
For Wilton, Gunner Edwards threw for 192 yards, achieved two touchdowns, and had three interceptions. Noah Gray was effective on the ground, rushing for 80 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, while Hayden Hill added 68 yards on 13 carries. Bryer Putman was a key target in the passing game, catching five passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, Gray, Hill, and Thatcher Murguia led the Beaver defense with 10 tackles each. With this victory, Wilton advances to the semifinals, continuing their momentum with a seven-game winning streak.
