Panthers open with 10-point win

It was worth the wait.

The Creston/O-M Panthers got off to a 13-0 lead in defeating Norwalk 27-17 Friday night at Panther Field.

The game was delayed 45 minutes prior to kickoff because of lightning in the area, and it 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 Monday at Norwalk, prior to the junior varsity game. Norwalk won the freshman game, 54-7, and scored late to seal a 23-12 JV victory. (See full reports in Wednesday’s News Advertiser.)

The first half was a defensive standoff, and Norwalk actually posed the first scoring threat in the second quarter. The Warriors drove 47 yards on 13 plays to the Panther 33 yard line. Norwalk placekicker Karson Olerich, who had a 48-yard field goal last year, tried a 50-yarder that fell short.

First TD

Creston/O-M scored on the next possession. On third-and-11 at the Norwalk 45, Panther quarterback Alex Nielsen found Christian Groumoutis alone over the middle for a touchdown pass with 3:35 left in the first half. Nielsen dropped the shotgun snap on the turf, but it bounced back into his hands and he was able to complete the play.

“When the play breaks down, you just have to stay calm,” Nielsen said. “I’m supposed to ride the back and kind of wait it out. It’s a post-wheel (route), kind of a long developing play anyway. He was wide open.”

Groumoutis didn’t even realize his quarterback had dropped the snap. He just knew the ball was coming to him over his left shoulder, perfectly in stride as he got behind the Warrior secondary.

“McClain (Haines) runs a corner, and I’m supposed to go right off his butt and run a post,” Groumoutis explained. “The corner and safety both followed McClain, and I was wide open over the middle. It saw it coming and I knew I was going to score.”

With two minutes left in the half, linebacker Alex Tamerius recovered a fumbled Norwalk pitchout, giving the Panthers possession again. A quick drive covered 59 yards, with Seth Maitlen carrying on the final two plays for 28 yards and 1 yard. A fumbled snap on the extra point left the score 13-0 in Creston/O-M’s favor at halftime.

Four different backs carried the ball for the Panthers in the game, but the “Jumbo” formation during that drive featuring Maitlen was an effective changeup. The powerful 225-pound junior is in contrast to the shifty running style of tailbacks Conner Pals and Chase Shiltz.

“It’s like a power play if we need short yards,” said Maitlen, who played guard last year. “Tamerius is a back with me and Jordan (Thompson) is at tight end. It’s tough to stop.”

It didn’t take long for Norwalk to change the momentum after the second-half kickoff, however.

Fueled by Luke Greenslade’s kickoff return to the Panther 40-yard line, the Warriors mounted a touchdown drive on the first possession to close it to 13-7. Cory Harding scored on a 2-yard run.

Defensive stand

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. The Warriors had first down at the 5-yard line, but were denied on each attempt, all on the ground.

“For me personally, that was one of my favorite things of the night,” said Maitlen, who collected a team-high 17 tackles, including five solo stops. “They started out inside our five, we were able to stop them.”

However, Panther quarterback Alex Nielsen was tackled in the end zone on the next play, closing the margin to 13-9.

Then came what might have been the game-saving play, considering the circumstances.

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 with 7:07 left in the game.

“I read that he was going to the post and just stepped in front of it,” Tucker said. “I don’t know how many times it took me to catch that ball. I bobbled it about three times, I think. Then Nielsen made a heck of a play on the next one.”

Breakaway run

Nielsen’s quarterback keeper was set up perfectly on the right side. He only had to high-step and shuck one would-be defender on his way to the 70-yard TD. It helped him become the team’s rushing leader for the day with 103 yards on seven carries.

“I have to be patient on that play and let it develop,” Nielsen related. “I ride the back for a second and wait for the hole to open up. I saw a huge hole.”

Nielsen also completed 8-of-15 passes for 92 yards without any interceptions.

“I think we showed what we could do,” Nielsen said. “We just have to cut down on the penalties and a few mental mistakes.”

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 Pals’ kick making it 27-17 with 2:02 left in the game.

“We ran a stack,” Haines said. “I run a corner on that play. I saw they were in cover one. I looked at Alex and I was like, we’re going to score right here. I couldn’t ask for a better ball. He put it right on the money.”

Creston/O-M edged Norwalk in total offense, 338 yards to 332. But, the Panthers were flagged 14 times for 155 yards, while Norwalk was assessed 14 violations for 110 yards, which partially explains the late conclusion of the contest.

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.

Brandsfield was Norwalk’s leading rusher with 71 yards on 19 carries. He was 18-of-39 passing for 204 yards and two interceptions.

A coverage breakdown led to Brandfield’s TD pass, and the penalties extended some Warrior drives. But overall, the Panthers contained a dangerous Norwalk offense.

“We left some points out on the field and we had mistakes that sustained their drives,” head coach Brian Morrison said, “but overall our kids competed at a high level. That’s a good football program. We knew they would come in with good skill kids and play physical football. Our kids fought through things in the fourth quarter and got the win.”

The Panthers travel to Clarinda for the second non-district game next Friday. The improved Cardinals raced past Atlantic Friday, 60-14.

Creston/O-M 27, Norwalk 17

Points by quarter

Norwalk 0 0 7 10 — 17

Creston 0 13 0 14 — 27

SCORING SUMMARY

Second Quarter

Cr — Christian Groumoutis 45 pass from Alex Nielsen (Conner Pals kick), 3:35

Cr — Seth Maitlen 1 run (kick failed), :53

Third Quarter

N — Cory Harding 2 run (Karson Olerich kick), 9:40

Fourth Quarter

N — Safety (Nielsen tackled in end zone), 11:44

Cr — Nielsen 70 run (Pals kick), 7:07

N — Justin South 39 pass from Brady Brandsfield (Luke Greenslade pass from Brandsfield), 5:05

Cr — McClain Haines 17 pass from Nielsen (Pals kick), 2:02

—————

TEAM STATISTICS

N ... C/O-M

First downs 20 ... 12

Rushes-yards 41-128 ... 31-246

Passing yards 204 ... 92

Total yards 332 ... 338

Punts-avg. 3-41.3 ... 4-45.3

Return yards 141 ... 104

Fumbles-lost 2-1 ... 1-1

Penalties-yards 14-110 ... 14-155

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Cr: Alex Nielsen 7-103, Seth Maitlen 7-59, Chase Shiltz 8-44, Conner Pals 9-40. N: Brady Brandsfield 19-71, Jessie Cowie 10-37, Colby Klocko 6-17, Cory Harding 3-12.

PASSING — Cr: Nielsen 8-15-0 for 92 yards. N: Brandsfield 18-39-2 for 204 yards.

RECEIVING — Cr: Christian Groumoutis 2-50, McClain Haines 3-27, Bryce Briley 1-8, Alex Tamerius 1-7, Shiltz 1-0. N: Luke Greenslade 5-65, Justin South 3-60, Devin Pirkle 1-26, A.J. Tabatabai 3-19, Tyler Schamel 2-16, Mason Hughes 2-12, Klay Klocko 1-3.

PUNTS-AVG. — Cr: Nielsen 4-45.3. N: Coby Klocko 3-41.3.

TACKLE LEADERS (solo-assists) — Cr: Seth Maitlen 5-12, Tayler Pettit 3-9, Alex Tamerius 2-6, Chase Shiltz 2-6, Kadon Hulett 1-6, Trevor Downing 0-7, Jordan Thompson 0-6, McClain Haines 2-4, Sam Hartsock 2-2, Bryce Briley 0-4, Conner Pals 2-2, Jake Gutschenritter 0-3, Tyson Tucker 1-1, Colton Bolinger 1-1.

INTERCEPTIONS — Cr: Tyson Tucker, McClain Haines.

PASS BREAKUPS — Cr: Tayler Pettit, Jordan Thompson.

FUMBLE RECOVERIES — Cr: Alex Tamerius.

TACKLES FOR LOSS (YARDS) — Cr: Hulett 1-(-5), Pettit 1-(-2), Downing 1-(-2), Maitlen 1-(-1).

SACKS — Cr: Hulett 1.