March 29, 2024

Foundation laid

Panther coach sees growth ahead, credits seniors’ contributions

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A balanced district with three playoff teams and a non-district schedule that included three teams with winning records this year presented nine distinct challenges to the 2019 Creston/Orient-Macksurg football team.

At Sunday’s team awards banquet in the Creston Community High School commons, head coach Brian Morrison focused on the intangibles that he admired in his 2-7 team that can contribute to growth in the coming years.

In particular, a group of 10 seniors (plus Logan Shady, out with preseason injury) was praised by Morrison for setting the correct tone for competing in such a formidable week-to-week schedule.

“This year, I don’t personally look at the record,” Morrison said. “I look at how our kids performed on a Friday, on a Monday (JV), and is the effort there? You guys watched us play really good competition from week one to week nine. These guys (pointing to the seniors) led our team against really good opponents, and our kids never stopped fighting.”

Difficult schedule

The combined season record of all nine Creston/O-M opponents this season was 54-32, including four playoff teams.

The Panthers opened the season on a promising note against two Class 2A opponents, shutting out Chariton (5-4 team) on the road, 42-0, before beating Atlantic (4-5) 35-13 in the home opener.

The next two non-district opponents went on to have solid seasons after beating the Panthers. Carlisle (7-3) made the 3A playoffs with a successful season that included a 36-21 home victory over Creston/O-M. Bondurant-Farrar narrowly missed the playoffs with five victories, including a 31-22 victory over the Panthers.

Lewis Central, now 10-1 and in the 3A semifinals this weekend, opened district play with a 48-8 home win over Creston/O-M. The Panthers also traveled to Adel and lost a 42-28 shootout to ADM (5-4).

Longtime rivals Winterset and Creston/O-M faced off at Panther Field on Oct. 11, with the Huskies (4-5) winning 48-32 to nudge the Panthers out of fifth place in the district.

The Panthers closed the season against two playoff-qualifying teams who ended up as district co-champs with Lewis Central. Harlan (7-3) blanked the Panthers 40-0 before Creston/O-M made it competitive all the way in a 49-35 loss at Glenwood (7-3).

“We had chances to win a lot more games than two because of these guys’ efforts and believing in the football program and the football team,” Morrison said, as the seniors were presented their final awards.

All-district honors

Among those seniors were two leaders who earned all-district first-team honors. Eli Loudon and Rylan Luther. (The full team will be published after Lewis Central’s season is complete.)

Loudon, one of several outstanding quarterbacks in the district, was named on the first team offense as an “at large” selection. Loudon ranked fourth in Class 3A passing yards (2,095) while completing 125 of 261 passes with 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

The only quarterback in Creston/O-M history with more passing yards in one season was Alex Nielsen of the 2014 state semifinals squad. Loudon also ran for nine touchdowns. He held the starting quarterback role for the Panthers since late in his sophomore season.

Morrison cited the two-way contributions of Luther, who earned all-district status at linebacker. He was also the team’s leading rusher (602 yards), despite battling a hip labrum injury that will require surgery in the near future. Luther had a team-high 51.5 tackles at outside linebacker, including four for losses.

Morrison said junior wide receiver Cael Kralik almost made the all-district first team, ending up on the second team when a tiebreaker was determined in the voting. Kralik ranked ninth in Class 3A receiving yards (763) on 39 catches.

Others recognized on the second team are senior defensive back Luke Latham, also the team’s second-leading receiver, junior Keagan Smith in the offensive line and junior linebacker Garon Wurster

Receiving honorable mention are junior receiver Brance Baker, two-way senior lineman Sam Chapman and junior defensive lineman Andy Weis.

Morrison said the coaching staff is excited about the talented group of 21 juniors who will be leaders of next year’s team.

“This is a good group and we’ve known that since they were at the junior high level,” Morrison said. “They compete well in all sports. A lot of them played as sophomores and became leaders on this year’s team. We’re excited to have them as seniors.”

Players from the junior varsity and freshman teams were also recognized by coaches. Freshman coach Kevin Cooper noted that the team of 18 players started the season with four victories before ending up 4-5 against a strong field of district opponents.

“You combine these kids with the grades around them and they have a great future ahead of them,” Cooper said.

“They were in all of their football games,” Morrison added. “Now we just have to make sure they all stay out.”

Jon Thomson, who directs the junior varsity, told the crowd he hasn’t been able to announce very often that the JV team went 5-2 (with final game at Harlan cancelled by inclement weather).

“This group had a lot of fun playing and they were successful,” Thomson said.

“A lot of these sophomores and juniors also helped us on Friday nights,” Morrison said. “What I liked about watching them play was that they competed in every single game.”

Letterwinners

(Letters won)

Seniors — Sam Chapman (2), Brayton Chesnut (3), Gavin Gillam (3), Hayden Green (3), Eli Hartman (3), Luke Latham (3), Eli Loudon (4), Rylan Luther (4), Camden Peterson (3), Jacob Rushing (2), Logan Shady (3).

Juniors — Brance Baker (2), Kaden Bolton (2), Evan Bruce (2), Colby Burg (2), Ethan Freeman (2), AJ Guy (1), Kolby Hulett (2), Jackson Kinsella (1), Cael Kralik (2), Britain Miller (2), Wiley Ray (2), Gavin Shawler (2), Keagan Smith (2), Cole Strider (2), Tyson Stuart (2), Connor Travis (2), Brodie Wallace (2), Andy Weis (2), Garon Wurster (3).

Sophomores — Payten Bierle (1), Avery Fuller (1), Briley Hayes (1), Derek Paup (1), Owen Richards (1), Gage Skarda (1), Luke Tebbenkamp (1), Jake Travis (1), Lucas Veatch (1), Chris Wilson (2).

Participation awards — Adam McElwain, Steven Mills, Victor Arevelo, Triston Barncastle, Andre Davis, Kayleb Howard, Tyson Smith, Skyler Wilson, Chris Aragon, Trey Chesnut, Willie Clayton, Payton Conley, Noah Felix, Garrett Fry, Gannon Greenwalt, Carter Henderson, Owen Henderson, Ty Morrison, Jaydan Pettegrew, Kohl Ringer, Austin Seaton, Kadon Street, Kyle Strider, Kevin Ward, George Weis, Cade Wurster.

All-District

FIrst team — Eli Loudon, offense at-large; Rylan Luther, linebacker.

Second team — Cael Kralik, wide receiver; Luke Latham, defensive back; Keagan Smith, offensive line; Garon Wurster, linebacker.

Honorable mention — Brance Baker, offense; Sam Chapman, defense; Andy Weis, defense.

Team awards

Scout team players of year — Jacob Rushing, Hayden Green.

Special teams MVP — Brayton Chesnut.

Offense MVP — Eli Loudon.

Defense MVP — Rylan Luther.

Captains — Eli Loudon, Rylan Luther, Gavin Gillam, Sam Chapman.

IHSAA Academic Achievement Award (3.0-3.5 GPA) — Creston/O-M team.

Statistical leaders

Passing — Eli Loudon 125-261-10 for 2,095 yards, 17 touchdowns.

Rushing — Rylan Luther 92-602 with 5 TDs; Loudon 104-111 with 9 TDs; Andy Mills 19-97 with one TD; Cael Kralik 6-44; Luke Latham 8-41; Gage Skarda 8-30; Briley Hayes 12-24.

Receiving — Kralik 39-763 with 6 TDs; Latham 30-535 with 1 TD; Brance Baker 26-441 with 7 TDs; Derek Paup 10-163 with 1 TD; Camden Peterson 11-93.

Tackles (solo-assists) — Luther 24-55, Gavin Wurster 20-55, Baker 28-29, Jackson Kinsella 7-42, Andy Mills 12-31, Brodie Wallace 13-23, Latham 15-19, Sam Chapman 7-29, Andy Weis 4-31, Kaden Bolton 4-25, Brayton Chesnut 10-10, Briley Hayes 9-6, Gavin Gillam 5-14.

Tackles for loss (solo-assists) — Kinsella 4-3, Luther 2-2, Mills 3-0, Wurster 2-0, Wallace 2-0, Latham 2-0, Weis 0-2, Bolton 1-1, Derek Paup 1-1.

Sacks (solo-assists) — Luther 0-2, Kinsella 1-1, Mills 1-0, Chapman 0-1, Bolton 0-1, Gage Skarda 0-1.

Interceptions — Chesnut 2, Baker 2, Latham 1.

Fumble recoveries — Luther 2, Baker 2.

PATs — Kralik 17-23.

Field goals — None

Kickoffs-Avg. — Kralik 40-43.4.

Punts-Avg. — Luther 22-34.0; Kralik 11-32.7.

Kickoff returns-Avg. — Kralik 10-32.2; Chesnut 10-21.2; Mills 6-13.5.

Punt returns-Avg. — Chesnut 3-23.3; Baker 4-11.5.