Three Panthers on Class 3A all-state teams

Class 3A’s leading rusher, a dominant lineman who helped open holes for him and the program’s all-time leader in tackles are all-staters today for the Creston/Orient-Macksburg football team.

A panel of Iowa sports writers, assisted by representatives from the Iowa Football Coaches Association, selected the Iowa Newspaper Association’s all-state football teams last weekend. Those teams were announced today.

Chase Shiltz, the Panthers’ iron man ball carrier this season, moved from the all-state second team as a sophomore to the first-team backfield this year.

Offensive right tackle Trevor Downing, just a sophomore, was named to the Class 3A second team, along with senior linebacker Seth Maitlen, who ended his career as a two-time all-stater.

Shiltz finished with 2,542 yards and 35 touchdowns for the 6-5 Panthers, which led Class 3A. He is already the program’s career rushing leader with 3,792 yards in two seasons. Shiltz surpassed 1,000 yards in just his final three games, including 308 yards against back-to-back champion Pella, despite suffering a broken right hand in the playoff win at district champion Harlan.

“He’s a tough kid,” said Creston/O-M head coach Brian Morrison. “Last year he played the Heelan (semifinal) game with a torn meniscus, and nobody knew he was in a lot of pain. He’s just a really competitive kid. We’re really glad he’s just a junior and we’ll have him back.”

Strong finish

Shiltz became a workhorse in the second half of the season, carrying 30 to 45 times a game as he relinquished some of his former defensive duties with the return of safety Brody Frain from injury. The Panther line play was instrumental in a frequently used wildcat formation, called “Tank,” in which Shiltz took a direct snap for a carry with an offensive lineman replacing the quarterback for additional blocking in the trenches.

At 5-11 and 186 pounds, there are bigger backs in the district, and faster players on opposing teams, but no team was effective in shutting him down.

“He’s a special kid,” Morrison said. “Typically you see running backs with specific traits, as far as cutting or being a power back. He’s both. Harlan has faster kids, but he decided he wasn’t going to get caught by those kids, because he just has another gear when he gets the pads on. He has good vision, he’s very patient and when he makes a cut, he’s hard to bring down.”

Shiltz is joined in the 3A backfield by Matt George of Sergeant Bluff-Luton and all-time Webster City rushing leader Gavin Dinsdale. Coy Roussell of West Delaware, second to Shiltz in rushing yards in Class 3A, was named the offensive utility player on the first unit. The first-team quarterback is Pella’s Noah Clayberg. Harlan kicker Ethan Knudson was also named to the first-team offense.

The first team defense also included some opponents familiar to Creston/O-M fans — Norwalk defensive end Sonny Onken, Glenwood linebacker Carter Von Essen and Pella defensive back Will Warner, who was also a dangerous receiver for the Little Dutch. Pella’s Zach VandeWeerd is the defensive utility selection.

Shiltz and Downing were unanimous all-district selections. Downing earned respect for his performance at right tackle for the Panthers.

“We knew last year he was a really good football player, but he got dinged up and missed the rest of his season with his knee,” Morrison said. “But this year Trevor was probably the most dominant offensive lineman in our district, as a sophomore. He’s physical, and he just goes. He moves well for being 6-5 and 290 pounds. He will have a bright future, a lot of Division I interest, I think.”

Downing also played a lot on the defensive line for the Panthers before an injury led Morrison and offensive coordinator Ryan McKim to have him focus primarily on the offensive side.

Defensive stalwart

Maitlen, meanwhile, was a mainstay on the Panther defense for three years as inside linebacker. He set a school record for tackles as a junior for the state semifinal team, and followed that by leading the team again in 2015 with 28 solo stops and 73 assisted tackles. He had seven tackles for loss and was frequently used as a receiver out of the backfield with 14 catches for 206 yards.

The 6-2, 215-pound senior played both fullback and tight end on offense.

“Seth was a three-year starter for us,” Morrison said. “I just really like the way he plays the game, and he’s a great teammate. The kids all look up to him. He was a big-time player for us and he’ll be a good collegiate player, whether it be at linebacker or on offense. He will excel at the the next level.”

Maitlen has visited NAIA top-ranked Morningside, which also includes former Panther Briar Evans as a starting J-back on offense. Former Panther receiver Alan Smith also played for the Mustangs.

“It’s a good deal knowing we have good kids coming back like Chase and Trevor,” Morrison said, “but Seth will definitely be missed. He plays the game the right way.”

The Class 3A second team also includes Glenwood receiver Mavrick Decker, Norwalk quarterback Brady Brandsfield, Glenwood defensive lineman Cole Loeffelbein, Winterset linebacker Matt Baur, Norwalk linebacker Logan Foetisch and Dallas-Center-Grimes’ Austin Kloewer, also the team’s quarterback, in the defensive secondary along with Greene County’s Daric Whipple, who also played quarterback.

On the third team are Harlan offensive lineman Max Langenfield, Harlan running back Nick Tarney, Norwalk kicker Zach Kreider, Greene County defensive lineman Noah Juergensen and Dallas Center-Grimes linebacker Logan Buck.

3A captain

Pella’s Clayberg was named captain of Class 3A. He led Pella in back-to-back undefeated seasons and repeat state championships. During the championship game Clayberg ran for 188 yards, scored two TDs and passed for 121 yards. Clayberg has received several Division I offers to play football.