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Creston/Orient-Macksburg’s Friday opponent has a tendency to hang around a bit longer than what’s comfortable.
The Panthers defeated Winterset 34-12 in Winterset a year ago. In fact, the Panthers have defeated the Huskies in each of the last five seasons by scores of 42-34 (2014), 32-20 (2013), 20-19 (2012) and 29-7 (2011). Winterset last won the game 28-7 in 2010.
Winterset is 1-4, but has found ways to stay close even in losing games. In last week’s 31-13 Winterset loss to Carroll, the Huskies managed to limit the Carroll offense.
“We’ve gotta be disciplined about what we do up front, make sure we pick up the blitzing linebackers so we can run the ball effectively,” Creston/O-M coach Brian Morrison said.
Husky hefty defense?
Winterset has had solid defensive outings multiple times this season, with the main exception being the Huskies surrendering 56 points against Norwalk, the now No. 3 team in Class 3A.
Now the Huskies play host to the No. 4 Panthers and their vaunted offense. Creston/O-M comes in averaging 318 yards per game on the ground and has 25 rushing touchdowns alone. Creston/O-M is averaging 48 points per game, while the Huskies are yielding just 27 points per contest.
Huskie junior linebacker Conner Van Pelt enters the game with 60 tackles as Winterset’s defensive leader. Noah Larson, an exceptional athlete on both sides of the ball, has 33 tackles, three solo tackles for loss and a sack.
Huskie ‘O’ wishes to get going
Winterset in recent years has consistently ran frequently out of a base wishbone offense. Three backs will line up in the backfield, but senior Brad Benshoof will get the majority of the meaningful touches for the Winterset offense.
Benshoof has 508 yards on the ground this season with four touchdowns. He averages 5.8 yards per carry.
“The running back (Benshoof) is pretty dynamic. He was a good player for them the last two years. He’s as good as it gets. We have got to make sure we stop and limit his yards,” Morrison said.
Larson will operate as the quarterback, while run the ball some and will lead a sprinkle of spread out formations to offer different looks from Winterset’s offensive base wishbone.
Larson completed 8-of-22 passes against Carroll for 211 yards and a touchdown. Benshoof and Larson combined for 81 yards rushing against the sixth ranked team in Class 3A.
No Winterset receiver has hit double digit receptions as of yet, but four different players have at least four catches and a touchdown.
Huskie fight
Coming into its third game against a state top 10 ranked team, don’t expect Winterset to come in tentative. The Huskies should be expected to test the Panthers, run the ball right at the defense and could try some non-conventional plays to create an equalizer in what could be their stiffest test of the year.
“The kids from Winterset always play hard,” Morrison said.
His team has no intention of slowing down in week six against the home team Huskies.
In fact, the head coach claimed that Tuesday might just have been his team’s best practice of the season.
He had a couple simple goals for his squad to accomplish what they’re setting out to do.
“Limit mistakes, play fast on both side sides of the football.,” Morrison said.
Extra notes
Brody Frain will make the start at safety a week after getting his first live-action in-game snaps since incurring a foot injury week one against Boone. Whether Frain takes any reps at quarterback is something that will be explored later.
“It’ll be good getting him back in the mix,” Morrison said.
Senior lineman Keaton Eslinger, who injured his knee in the win over Atlantic, has not practiced and will not play Friday. Eslinger and the coaching staff awaits the results of an MRI on the knee either today (Thursday) or tomorrow. The immediate prognosis was not optimistic for Eslinger, but nothing is known for sure yet.
Freshmen/JV
The Panther freshmen will take the field at 4:45 Friday night in Winterset, while the junior varsity team will play at home against the Huskies Monday at 6 p.m.