April 19, 2024

Panthers fall short of district title, chaos in Eight-player District 6

By STAFF REPORT
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Creston/Orient-Macksburg co-head football coach Brian Morrison addresses his team after Friday's 49-21 loss at Carroll in Class 3A District 7 play. The Panthers suffered their first loss of the season Friday. The Panthers conclude the regular season 8-1 overall and 6-1 in Class 3A District 7. The Panthers will still advance to the postseason. Their first-round opponent will be known later today (Saturday) at 10 a.m. when the Iowa High School Athletic Association releases the full pairings. (CNA photo)

CARROLL — Dayton Ross paved a path of destruction against the Creston/Orient Macksburg defense in the Carroll Tigers' 49-21 home win Friday.

It was a win that clinched the Class 3A District 7 title for Carroll, and relegated the Panthers to second in the district.

Creston/O-M will find out its playoff tomorrow at 10 a.m. when its pairing is released by the ISHAA. The Panthers had already clinched a spot in the playoffs with their win over ADM last week.

Carroll's Ross caught three first half touchdown passes to lead the Tigers into the locker room up 28-14. His 70-yard catch-and-run touchdown set the tone on the third play from scrimmage for the Tiger offense that scored on each of its first four possessions.

Ross also ran for a 4-yard score to put Carroll up 35-21 late in the third quarter.

With about 10 minutes left and down 14, the Panthers punted to the Carroll 5-yard line. The Tigers mounted a 95-yard drive to go up 42-21 and effectively clinch the game.

Gavin Woods hauled in a 25-yard pass on the Panthers' first drive, and Chase Shiltz had two touchdown runs to account for Creston/O-M's scoring.

Both Zach Carlson and Shiltz were injured late in the game and their conditions are to be determined.

— CNA sports reporter Kaleb Carter

8-man District 6

UPDATE — There certainly was the possiblity for chaos in Eight-player District 6 coming into Friday's final night of the regular season.

Bedford, East Union and Stanton all entered the night at 5-1 in the district. The Bulldogs and Vikings were set to square off in Stanton. East Union was at Wayne. Meanwhile, Lenox, at 4-2, was at Lamoni. If the Tigers won, and both East Union and Stanton lost, the final playoff spot would come down to a points tiebreaker.

Bedford, East Union and Stanton controlled their own destinies. A win by any of those teams secured a spot in the postseason. A loss meant they could see their season end depending on what shook out in the rest of the district.

When the dust was settled late Friday night, Lenox was in, while East Union and Stanton saw their seasons come to an end.

To start off, in Corydon, a slow start proved to be too much for East Union to overcome. The Eagles fell behind 28-8 in the third quarter. East Union staged a furious comeback, closing within 28-26 early in the fourth quarter. The Eagles had all of the momentum.

But Wayne took over from there. The Falcons scored three fourth quarter touchdowns to pull away for a 48-26 win.

Emotions poured out of the East Union players, knowing what the loss could mean for their season.

The loss meant East Union was scoreboard watching. If Stanton won, East Union was in, as the Eagles owned the head-to-head tiebreaker over both Bedford and Lenox. If Bedford won, the Eagles would be thrown into the points tiebreaker with Stanton and Lenox.

Meanwhile, in Lamoni, a beat up Lenox team, already without the services of star quarterback Dawson Tullberg, who suffered a broken leg in a week 8 loss to Bedford, was in a crazy game of their own with Lamoni.

The Tigers pulled ahead 40-38 in the fourth quarter. With time winding down, Tigers head coach Matt Malausky knew every point was critical. Lenox added a touchdown in the waning seconds to pull ahead 46-38.

That gave the Tigers a potential extra boost in playoff points if it came down to a three-way tie for second.

Meanwhile, in Bedford took care of its business, downing Stanton in a wild 54-42 shootout in Stanton.

With East Union's loss, that gave the Bulldogs the outright district title.

The question was who would be second?

In the end, Lenox came out on top in the points tiebreaker.

That left the Vikings with two district losses and in a three-way tie with East Union.

With their win secure, that sent the Lenox coaches into scoreboard watching mode. They checked their social media feeds constantly, trying to pick up word on what was going on in Corydon and Stanton.

Later that night, the Tigers found out the news they'd been hoping for: their longshot bid for the playoffs would be fulfilled.

Lenox had the highest point differential average at 8.29, compared with 8 for Stanton and 6.29 for East Union.

At 6-3 overall and 5-2 in district play, Lenox was in the playoffs.

East Union, at 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the district, was out. Stanton was 6-3 overall and 5-2 in the district and was also left out.

— Sports editor Ryan Kronberg

For more information on tonight's games, be sure to read the Monday edition of the Creston News Advertiser.