June 07, 2025
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Shown with Northwest Missouri State defensive end Collin Bevins of Creston on the Bearcats' Family Day Saturday are, from left, brother-in-law Justin Biggart, sister Michaela Biggart, mother Michelle Bevins, father Jeff Bevins, niece Ellie Biggart, brother Jared Bevins, stepmother Deena Bevins and stepsister Haley Stalcup. Bevins had one tackle and one quarterback hurry as the Bearcats defeated Nebraska-Kearney, 52-14. The Bearcats play at Missouri Southern at 6 p.m Saturday in Joplin, Mo. Also, Jared Bevins is now employed as eighth-grade football coach and high school assistant wrestling coach for Harlan Community Schools while also still working for a training company, Peak Performance. (CNA photo)

Rutgers coach

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Rutgers offensive line coach A.J. Blazek is a former Iowa Hawkeyes teammate of quarterback Kyle McCann of Creston with family connections to Creston.

Blazek is the grandson of former Creston football coach Jack Blazek and son of a former Panther player, John Blazek, who kicked a 47-yard field goal in 1972. That stood as a state record at the time, later surpassed by Creston’s Kevin Downey with a 56-yarder in 1975. That record was eclipsed in 1982.

A native of Wichita, Kansas, Blazek received his bachelor’s degree in health promotions in 2001, then a master’s degree in sports administration in 2004, both at Iowa. Blazek earned All-Big Ten Conference honors in 2000 and was a co-captain during that season. Twice he earned Academic All-Big Ten Conference honors.

Prior to joining head coach Chris Ash at Rutgers, Blazek worked three years on the staff at Western Illinois. Ash is an Ottumwa native, Drake graduate and former assistant coach at Iowa State.

Saturday’s game will air at 11 a.m. on ESPN2. Rutgers is 2-1, having lost at Washington 48-13 before gaining victories of 52-14 over Howard and 37-28 over New Mexico.

Central ranked

PELLA — For the first time in nearly six years, Central College has cracked the D3football.com top 25 rankings.

The Dutch debut at No. 25 after raising their season mark to 3-0 with a 33-0 whitewashing of Buena Vista University. It’s Central’s first appearance in the poll since Nov. 8, 2010.

Cole Tanner, former Creston/O-M player, is a 6-2, 260-pound senior offensive guard for the Dutch. Also on the team is sophomore linebacker Alex Tamerius of Creston.

Coming off a 6-4 campaign, Central turned a few heads with its 50-49 overtime upset of then-No. 19 Whitworth University (Wash.) Sept. 3. That was followed by a 45-17 victory at Augustana College (Ill.) Sept. 10.

The Dutch are on the road for the third time in four games on Saturday at Loras College in Dubuque.

Reivers ranked

COUNCIL BLUFFS — Iowa Western Community College (2-2) is now ranked NO. 20 in the NJCAA football poll after consecutive victories.

Defensive tackle Joe Ricker is a defensive starter for the Reivers, who beat Fort Scott 26-7 and rolled 49-7 over then second-ranked Butler Community College for the team’s 33rd straight home victory. That streak goes back to the 2010 season. Ricker is a 6-1, 281-pound sophomore.

Creston native Dane Wardenbug, former offensive tackle at Northwest Missouri State University, is offensive line coach and run game coordinator for the Reivers, who host Coffeyville Community College at 1 p.m. Saturday at Council Bluffs Lewis Central.

Reinjured

SIOUX CITY — After four pass receptions for 37 yards in victories over Ottawa and Dordt, the Morningside career of sophomore receiver Briar Evans of Creston suddenly ended.

After missing the 2014 season with knee surgery for an ACL tear, Evans suffered the same injury in practice after the season’s second game. He faces another surgery scheduled Oct. 12 and has elected to discontinue his football career.

Last year Evans was named all-conference and received NAIA All-American honorable mention after the Mustangs reached the national semifinals.