ATLANTIC — The Creston/O-M freshmen ended their season with a 37-30 victory over Atlantic Friday.
Mitchel Swank’s second touchdown run of the night, from 14 yards, broke the 30-30 tie with 3:25 left in the game. He also had a 48-yard TD run in the second quarter.
Quarterback Jaden Driskell completed three touchdown passes — two to Dustin Merritt and another to Evan Jacobson.
Merritt had eight tackles for the Panther defense and Michael Stults had seven.
“This was a fun game to watch and coach,” Panther coach Jon Thomson said. “We were down going into the second half, but I wasn’t worried. We were moving the ball really well, throwing and catching. I am very pleased that at the beginning of the year this team would have folded being down, but they have grown so much over the season that they dug their heels in and got after things. I was comfortable enough open the playbook up and do what we wanted.”
Thomson said the defense made timely big plays, putting pressure on the Trojans.
“We ended the year on a good note,” Thomson said. “Thanks to all the parents and fans for their support this year.”
Creston/O-M 37, Atlantic 30
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
A — 44-yard pass (two-point pass)
Cr — Evan Jacobson 25 pass from Jaden Driskell (Jacobson kick)
A — 51-yard pass (two-point pass)
Second Quarter
Cr — Mitchel Swank 48 run (Kolby Tomas run)
A — 2-yard run (pass failed)
Third Quarter
Cr — Dustin Merritt 9 pass from Driskell (Jacobson kick)
A — 24-yard pass (two-point pass)
Cr — Merritt 76 pass from Driskell (Driskell run)
Fourth Quarter
Cr — Swank 14 run (Jacobson kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Cr: Kolby Tomas 12-139, Mitchel Swank 15-113, Driskell 6-20.
PASSING — Cr: Jaden Driskell 7-10-0 for 188 yards.
RECEIVING — Cr: Dustin Merritt 4-141, Evan Jacobson 1-25, Tomas 2-22.
TACKLE LEADERS (solo-assists) — Merritt 3-5, Swank 4-2, Michael Stults 3-4, Trevor Marlin 4-1, Seth Steinbach 2-3, Tomas 3-1, Garrett Dahl 2-2, Dawson Smith 0-5, Keaton Eslinger 1-3, Tyler Peters 2-0, Driskell 1-1, Mason Kinsella 1-1.