Cyclones on the rise

One of the scores that made southwest Iowa high school football fans take notice last weekend was Harlan’s 14-6 victory over previously undefeated and Class 3A No. 4-ranked Lewis Central.

The Cyclones were coming off a 28-21 district loss to Glenwood, and faced a possible crippling blow to playoff hopes with a third loss of 2019 to the Titans. (Sergeant Bluff-Luton beat Harlan in week two, 47-27.)

Harlan allowed an early touchdown and then took command in the eight-point victory, according to Creston/Orient-Macksburg coach Brian Morrison, who is preparing his team for Friday’s senior night matchup with the Cyclones in the season’s home finale.

“LC scored on an early possession and then on their next drive fumbled in the end zone to turn it over,” Morrison said. “Harlan recovered that fumble, and from that point, Harlan was the better football team up front offensively and defensively. LC looked out of sorts, making some mistakes and playing behind the (first down) sticks for a lot of the game. Harlan was a team that I thought would be in the hunt for a playoff spot this year, and now they are in the driver’s seat after winning that football game.”

Glenwood, the Panthers’ final opponent, could be lodged in a three-way tie for the district title with Lewis Central and Harlan if the Titans and Cyclones win out. Glenwood, with no district losses to date, plays Lewis Central this week before hosting the Panthers Oct. 25.

“Our last two games are against teams vying for playoff spots and they will not overlook anybody, you can be sure of that,” Morrison said. “These are big games for them. In our district if you don’t do the little things correctly and have a bad night, your opponent will exploit you. Just look at Glenwood’s score (54-18) over ADM. So, we have to focus on the game plan and play a complete game to meet that challenge.”

Creston/O-M, now 2-5 overall and 0-3 in Class 3A District 9, appeared to be on the way to its first district victory in last week’s homecoming game with an 18-7 lead over Winterset late in the first half. The Huskies scored twice before halftime and went on to post a 48-32 victory.

"We gave up two touchdowns in the last three minutes of the half," Morrison said. "One was a 70-yard touchdown run and then we got into a third-and-34 on a penalty and two sacks, and punted to give them a short field. So, they got another touchdown. That's after driving down the field on them and running the ball on every play to go up 18-7. I thought, here we go, we finally had turned things around. I know the kids want to win. Now, they have to understand how to win. You take care of the little details, offensively and defensively."

Poor tackling on rushing plays and a few breakdowns in positioning allowing Winterset’s Class 3A high-ranking receivers to make touchdown catches became the team’s downfall, Morrison said.

“We have outstanding skill position kids on every team in our district and if you have breakdowns they will hurt you,” Morrison said. “This is probably as deep in good teams from top to bottom that I’ve ever seen in our district. We thought we could compete with these teams and we have, but we have not finished with a complete game yet.”

Interim coach

Legendary Harlan head coach Curt Bladt, now 74, is involved with the program for the 42nd straight year, but this year his son, Todd, is the interim head coach as Bladt battled several health issues over the past year. According to a report in the Harlan News Advertiser, the elder Bladt battled bone cancer, a broken hip and underwent open heart surgery last summer.

Yet, he was back on the scene in August practices riding a scooter and walking with a cane, barking his familiar instructions working with Todd, the youngest of his three sons who is in his 12th year coaching in the program.

“Todd’s the interim head coach, but they do what they do and Harlan isn’t changing,” Morrison said. “Their kids up front play hard and they plug in new people in the key positions every year.”

The quarterback for last year’s 8-3 Harlan team, Preston Mulligan, became Briar Cliff’s starter this, fall but the Cyclones have found a capable replacement. Johnathan Monson, a 6-foot-2 senior who had 50 catches for 707 yards last year, has made a successful transition to quarterback. He had previous experience filling in for two games at quarterback as a sophomore in wins over Carroll and Winterset.

Monson has become one of many two-way threats at signal-caller in District 9, showing a team-best 575 yards rushing and 11 running TDs to date, while also going 62 of 139 passing for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns with seven interceptions.

“I’m impressed with their quarterback,” Morrison said. “He’s very good running the football and they are about a 50-50 team running and passing. He has improved as a passer during the season and manages their offense well.”

The Cyclones return both of last year’s leading rushers in senior Alex Schechinger and junior Brenden Bartley, but Bartley sustained an ankle injury last week and is not listed as a starter for Friday’s 7 p.m. game at Panther Field.

The only returning starter in the offensive line is 200-pound junior guard Jacob Schechinger.

“We’ve seen bigger teams up front, but in watching them on film, they have good players and we will have our hands full up front,” Morrison said. “Their defensive line controlled the game against LC. Number 17 (Allen Fries, 220-pound senior) at defensive end is one of the best in the district. He compares to the ADM kid (Kaden Sutton, recently committed to Iowa State). He’s a player.”

Fries had 17 solo tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks among his 44 total tackles as a junior. This year he has 15 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in seven games. Sophomore defensive tackle Will McLaughlin, 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, is a force in the interior defensive line and at tight end on offense.

The only expected lineup change for Creston/O-M this week is at inside linebacker. Morrison said senior starter Andy Mills has left the team. Two sophomores, Derek Paup and Briley Hayes, have been vying for that spot alongside Garon Wurster, who had his best game last week with 9.5 total tackles.

The Panther freshmen start Friday’s action with kickoff at 4:15 p.m. Panther seniors and their parents will be honored prior to the game at approximately 6:40 p.m.

Creston/O-M (2-5, 0-3)

OFFENSE

T Sam Chapman 6-2 220 Sr.

G Keagan Smith 6-0 270 Jr.

C Gavin Gillam 6-0 200 Jr.

G Chris Wilson 6-1 285 So.

T Eli Hartman 6-2 215 Sr.

WR Luke Latham 5-10 150 Sr.

WR Brance Baker 6-0 160 Jr.

WR Cael Kralik 6-3 165 Jr.

QB Eli Loudon 5-1 1185 Sr.

RB Rylan Luther 6-0 19 Sr.

WR Camden Peterson 5-10 170 Sr.

K Cael Kralik 6-3 165 Jr.

DEFENSE

DE Sam Chapman 6-2 220 Sr.

NG Andy Weis 5-9 220 Jr.

DE Jackson Kinsella 6-1 200 Jr.

OLB Kaden Bolton 5-8 150 Jr.

ILB Derek Paup 6-0 185 So.

or Briley Hayes 5-10 160 So.

ILB Garon Wurster 5-5 150 Jr.

OLB Rylan Luther 6-0 190 Sr.

CB Luke Latham 5-10 150 Sr.

CB Brayton Chestnut 5-11 145 Sr.

SS Brodie Wallace 5-11 150 Jr.

or Camden Peterson 5-10 170 Sr.

FS Brance Baker 6-0 160 Jr.

P Rylan Luther 6-0 190 Sr.