Pierz improves to 5-1

MAPLE LAKE - John Omann was up to his usual tricks Friday as he rushed for 242 yards and two touchdowns leading the Pierz Pioneers to a 31-7 Central Minnesota Conference victory over the Maple Lake Irish Friday.

Omann carried the ball 30 times and caught one pass. Cody Stangl also scored twice and rushed for 82 yards on 16 carries helping Pierz rush for a 362 yards.

Pierz's defense is technically still perfect in not allowing a touchdown during a Pioneer win as Maple Lake's touchdown came on a 79-yard kick return by Jordan Goelz.

Dylan Kummet was in on 10 tackles and Stangl collected nine. Preston Weber intercepted a pass as Pierz held the Irish to just 146 yards of offense.

"Our offensive line did a great job of handling Maple Lake's blitzing defense and this allowed us to run the ball extremely well," said Pierz coach Leo Pohlkamp. "John Omann had an exceptional game tonight and continues to make big plays for us."

Pierz will get it a big test Wednesday when it hosts the 4-2 Holdingford Huskies.

Pierz 7 14 7 3 - 31

Maple Lake 0 0 0 7 - 7

First quarter

Prz-John Omann 7 run (Travis Kahl kick) 1:48

Second quarter

Prz-Omann 28 run (Kahl kick) 7:06

Prz-Cody Stangl 1 run (Kahl kick) 3:58

Third quarter

Prz-Stangl 1 run (Kahl kick) 1:27

Fourth quarter

ML-Jordan Goelz 79 kick return (Jake Stejskal kick) 1:15

Prz-Kahl 27 field goal 1:57

Team statistics

Rushes-yards: Prz 362; ML 112

Pass comp-att-int-yards: Prz 3-12-0-27; ML 1-2-1-9

Total offense: Prz 389; ML 146

Individual statistics

Rushing: Prz-John Omann 30-242, Cody Stangl 16-82, Mitch Woitalla 4-18, Zach Pohlkamp 1-14, Shawn Huls 5-6

Passing: Prz-Zach Pohlkamp 3-10-27

Receiving: Prz-Zach Kummet 1-16, Stangl 1-12, Omann 1-(-1)

Conference: Prz 4-1, ML 3-2. Overall: Prz 5-1, ML 3-3. Next game: Pierz hosts Holdingford 7 p.m. Wednesday.