The Creston/O-M Panthers defeated Norwalk 27-17 Friday night at Panther Field.
The game was delayed 45 minutes prior to kickoff because of lightning in the area, and the game did not end until 11:10 p.m. Intermittent rain showers fell during the game and made for some treacherous field conditions.
The freshman game was not held Friday. It was postponed until 4 p.m. Monday at Norwalk, prior to the JV game.
The game was scoreless until Panther quarterback Alex Nielsen found Christian Groumoutis alone over the middle for a 45-yard touchdown pass with 3:35 left in the first half.
Alex Tamerius recovered a fumbled Norwalk pitchout, giving the Panthers possession again with 1:59 left. A quick drive covered 59 yards, with Seth Maitlen carrying on the final two plays for 28 yards and 2 yards. A fumbled snap on the extra point left the score 13-0 in Creston/O-M's favor at halftime.
Norwalk, fueled by Luke Greenslade's kickoff return to the Panther 40-yard line, mounted a touchdown drive on the first possession of the second half to close it to 13-7.
Creston/O-M maintained that margin with a key goal line stand at the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth, as Norwalk quarterback Brady Brandsfield was stuffed on a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line.
However, Panther quarterback Alex Nielsen was tackled in the end zone on the next play, closing the margin to 13-9.
As Norwalk was driving for the go-ahead touchdown, Panther defensive back Tyson Tucker stepped in front of Greenslade for an interception, setting up Nielsen for a 70-yard run on a keeper. That made it 20-9.
An interference penalty against Creston/O-M on fourth-and-11 gave Norwalk new life on its next drive, and Brandsfield then found Justin South for a 39-yard touchdown. A two-point conversion pass shaved the Panthers' lead to 20-17.
Creston/O-M responded with an 80-yard scoring drive to go ahead by two scores. Nielsen found McClain Haines open on an out route to the left for a 17-yard touchdown, with Conner Pals' kick making it 27-17 with 2:02 left in the game.
Norwalk drove into Creston/O-M territory, but on a pass that went through South's grasp, Haines was on the scene for the team's second interception of the night.
With the 70-yard TD, Nielsen ended up as Creston/O-M's leading rusher with 103 yards on seven carries. He completed 8-of-15 passes for 92 yards and two TDs.
Brandsfield was Norwalk's leading rush with 65 yards on 18 carries. He was 18-of-39 passing for 204 yards and two interceptions.
Maitlen was active on defense for the Panthers, finishing with four solo tackles and 12 assisted stops.
There were 28 total penalties in the game — 14 for each team — for a total of 265 yards.
The Panthers travel to Clarinda for the second non-district game next Friday. The improved Cardinals raced past Atlantic Friday, 60-14.
Friday's scores
ADM, Adel 15, Perry 9
Albia 39, Mount Ayr 8
Bedford 36, Griswold 14
CAM, Anita 48, Adair-Casey 24
Carroll 34, Carroll Kuemper 0
Central Decatur, Leon 33, Nodaway Valley 12
Chariton 26, Centerville 0
Clarinda 60, Atlantic 14
Colfax-Mingo 21, Pleasantville 0
Creston-Orient-Macksburg 27, Norwalk 17
Dallas Center-Grimes 27, Carlisle 24, OT
Des Moines Christian 24, W. Central Vall., Stuart 6
East Mills 20, Boyer Valley, Dunlap 0
Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 58, Nishnabotna 6
Fremont Mills, Tabor 50, Woodbine 20
Glenwood 41, Red Oak 24
Glidden-Ralston 48, Remsen-Union 13
Guthrie Center 52, Stanton 28
Harlan 45, Denison-Schleswig 14
Lamoni 52, Essex 22
Lenox 36, East Union, Afton 32 (susp.)
Lewis Central 35, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 28
Mormon Trail 34, Murray 0
Nevada 49, Interstate 35, Truro 13
Saydel 26, Clarke, Osceola 15
Shenandoah 28, Riverside, Oakland 7
Southeast Warren 21, Eldon Cardinal 14
Southwest Valley 40, Clarinda Academy 0
St. Albert 20, Thomas Jefferson 13
Tri-Center, Neola 19, Underwood 8
Twin Cedars Bussey 20, English Valley N. English 14
Wayne, Corydon 50, Ankeny Christian 13
Winterset 15, Oskaloosa 14
Woodward-Granger 36, Martensdale-St. Marys 20