Creston/Orient-Macksburg and Lenox have both found out who their opponents will be in the opening round of the prep football playoffs.
The pairing were announced Saturday morning.
The Panthers (8-1) will host Boone (7-2) Friday at Panther Field.
It’s a rematch of week one when the Panthers defeated the Toreadors 28-7.
The winner will face off against either Norwalk (8-1) or Webster City (8-1) on Nov. 4.
Creston/O-M coach Brian Morrison noted it is an advantage to see the Toreadors again.
“It definitely is,” Morrison said.
The Panthers will see an improved Toreadors team.
“That being said, we watched the last three games on them and they’re a better football team than they were in week one and they should be.”
The Toreadors have avoided costly injuries.
“We’ll see the same kids we saw in week one,” Morrison said.
Morrison was surprised at getting a home game in the playoffs coming off a week nine loss at Carroll.
Still, playing at home will be a boost for the Panthers.
“It’s good having the home game,” Morrison said. “It’s great. We couldn’t ask for anything better as far as being at home for the first game against a really good Boone team.”
Playing in front of the home crowd one more time will benefit the Panthers.
“It’s big for our team,” Morrison said. “It’s a chance for our kids to stay home and have one shot to play in front of the home crowd.
“Playing at home in the playoffs is big no matter what the situation is.”
Lenox (6-3) travels to Eight-player top-ranked Fremont-Mills (9-0).
The winner faces either Exira/Elk Horn-Kimbalton (6-3) or Bedford (8-1) on Nov. 4.
Lenox coach Matt Malausky had an idea of what was coming thanks to volunteer assistant coach Todd Parrish.
“One of our volunteer assistant coaches texted me at one in the morning with all of the playoff spots,” Malausky said. “You never know what the state’s going to do and he got it verbatim.”
Like Creston/Orient-Macksburg and Boone, Lenox and Fremont-Mills is also a rematch of week one. The Knights won 42-0 in Tabor.
Facing the top-ranked Knights poses a stiff challenge for an injury-riddled Tigers team.
“Anybody in the state would not want to face the number one team in the state in the first round, especially when you have as many injuries as we do,” Malausky said.
Playing against Fremont-Mills is better than the alternative though.
“We’re thankful,” Malausky said. “We could be sitting at home. We’re one of only 16 teams in the state still playing. We’ll look to give them everything we’ve got.”
Fremont-Mills has steamrolled every opponent so far this season. The Knights’ closest game was 50-21 win over Exira/Elk Horn-Kimbalton.
The Knights' 42 points scored against the Tigers was the fewest Fremont-Mills has scored this season.
“They’re the same team we played and even better,” Malausky said.
The Knights bring plenty of weapons to the table, led by quarterback Mason Vanatta.
“They have so many skill positions,” Malausky said. “Their quarterback is accurate and not only is he accurate, but he’s good on his feet. He possesses a lot of problems. If we cover, then he’s free to run. We’ll definitely have our work cut out for us.”
Kickoff for all playoff games in the first round is 7 p.m.