Panthers seek to keep momentum going

Offense has come easy the last few weeks for the Creston/Orient-Macksburg football team.

Shoring up problems with the defense has been a key focus.

The Panthers (4-0, 2-0) have a chance to build on what they have strived to work on all season as Friday’s homecoming game against Atlantic (1-3, 0-2) is likely to be played in excellent weather and probably the biggest crowd of the year thus far.

After less-than-desirable weather in each of Creston/O-M’s first two home games, a clear warm night will be more than welcome for players and fans alike.

“We should have a lot of people there,” Creston/O-M coach Brian Morrison said. “The kids will be excited no doubt because we only have two home games left.”

Continuing success

The Panthers come in winners of four straight games, an undoubtedly overwhelmingly positive game against Denison-Scheslwig and have averaged 53.3 points per game over their last three outings.

Last year, Creston thrashed Atlantic on senior night in the rain 64-22 as Chase Shiltz ran for 340 yards and five touchdowns. The Panthers scored on three passing plays on just seven attempted throws and held a 57-22 lead at half to secure a running clock for the entirety of the second half.

With the expectedly nicer weather, expect the Panther playbook to open up even a bit more than it did in Denison last week.

“We practice it (more diverse passing looks) every week, but really emphasize throwing the football and we’re capable of doing that and I think you’ll see more of it the next couple of weeks because we gotta be full-go the last couple of weeks of district play,” Morrison said. “I think our kids will be ready for it. They’ve practiced a lot of it, we just haven’t shown a lot of it.”

Creston/O-M dominated the line of scrimmage in the win over the Trojans last year, accounting for eight tackles for loss.

Trojan Horsepower?

This is a new-look Atlantic team under the leadership of first-year head coach Mike McDermott.

Morrison expects his team to use some of the same defensive schemes used a week ago against Denison-Schleswig, as the Trojans are a veer-option oriented offense.

The Trojans come in off of a 24-7 loss to Winterset, which was the first win of the season for the Huskies.

The Huskies gashed the Atlantic run defense for 387 yards on 53 carries.

“We have to make sure we account for the quarterback, the dive-back and the tailback in the pitch-relationship,” Morrison said.

That’s not to say that Atlantic won’t showcase some different looks.

“They will spread you out in different formations in doubles and twins and throw the football but they want to earn their yards on the ground, no doubt about it,” Morrison said.

The biggest offensive threat for the Trojans will be junior running back Noah Bruckner.

In week three, the Trojans used senior Garrett Franken as a wide receiver after he was the team’s quarterback the previous two weeks. Franken responded, catching three passes from senior teammate Jackson Eden for 103 yards and a touchdown. That was in a 20-17 loss to Denison-Schleswig, a team that Creston/O-M defeated 42-7 last week.

Franken caught seven passes for 42 yards in the loss to Winterset.

An improved defense

Atlantic hasn’t played against the strongest competition in southwest Iowa, but it has at least kept teams from piling up points against it this season thus far. Winterset’s 24 points were the most allowed by the Trojans in four games this year.

The Trojans will run a “bear” front, with three down lineman, two backers walked up outside of the offensive tackles, and with two middle linebackers. A strongside safety will be alinged to the strongside of the ball, and the secondary will often operate out of a cover three look.

Health

The Panthers are notably healthy with only a few exceptions. Brody Frain, who was a starter on both sides of the ball in game one against Boone before sustaining a foot injury, began practicing again this week, but will not play in Friday’s game.

After experiencing symptoms of going heart and blood pressure issues, two-way starting lineman Kadon Hulett was checked out by a specialist in Des Moines Wednesday. Despite missing practice, Hulett is likley for action Friday.

JV/Freshmen

The Panther freshmen take on Atlantic before the varsity game at 4:45 and the junior varsity will square off with Atlantic at 6 p.m Monday.

Creston/O-M (4-0, 2-0)

OFFENSE

G Kadon Hulett6-4240Sr.

G Kaden Wilson6-3235Sr.

C Cody Tanner6-2290Sr.

T Tucker Flynn6-8320Jr.

T Trevor Downing6-5285Jr.

WR Gavin Woods5-11170Sr.

WR Zach Carlson5-11175Sr.

WR Evan Jacobson5-8140Jr.

QB Kylan Smallwood6-3195So.

RB Chase Shiltz5-11190Sr.

FB Jackson Mikkelsen5-10215Sr.

K Evan Jacobson5-8140Jr.

DEFENSE

DT Colton Bolinger6-5240Sr.

DT Blake Sevier6-1270Jr.

DE Kadon Hulett6-4240Sr.

LB Mitchel Swank5-7165Jr.

LB Kolby Tomas5-11200Sr.

LB Michael Stults6-0190Sr.

LB Chase Shiltz5-10190Sr.

CB Kylan Smallwood6-0165So.

CB Evan Jacobson5-8140Jr.

S Zach Carlson5-11175Sr.

S Cody Crawford 5-11175Sr.

P Colton Bolinger6-5240Sr.