Creston looks to dethrone Monarchs

Creston’s football team look for their first 3-0 start since 2016 when the Denison-Schleswig Monarchs come to town.

The Panthers two victories this season are a 28-12 win over Clarinda and a 31-14 win at Winterset last week, Creston’s first win over the Huskies since 2016.

“I thought we improved in that we got better up front as far as technique and doing the right thing both in the run and pass game,” Creston head coach Brian Morrison said.

Senior quarterback Kyle Strider threw for 153 yards, including two touchdowns.

He additionally scored a touchdown on a quarterback sneak.

“I thought (Strider) with his performance, 13-18, made good decisions, he improved also. We were steady at running back.”

Strider’s 13 receptions were distributed among six Panther wide receivers.

Cael Turner had three receptions including a touchdown, Dylan Calvin tallied a trio of catches as well. Trey Chesnut, Brennan Hayes and Brandon Briley each hauled in a pair of receptions. Gannon Greenwalt had one catch and one touchdown in the victory.

“We have a stable of wide receivers,” Morrison said.

On the other side of the ball, the defense totaled 36 tackles, including four for loss and three sacks.

Winterset’s opening drive Friday started with a 34 yard completion and ended with a sneak from the Panther 3 for a touchdown.

“Defensively, we have to eliminate big plays against really good teams,” Morrison said. “That’ll lose games for us, but, I think we settled down after the first drive. We did a good job in the third quarter making them punt numerous times.”

The 11th graders are “really talented” according to Morrison.

“As far as this week’s concerned, Denison’s a good football program,” he said. “Watching tape, they have a really talented junior class with their quarterback (Luke Wiebers), running back and wide receivers.”

Monarch wide receivers average 11.1 yards per reception. Wiebers has 26 rushes for 43 yards.

“They are probably the best receiving corps we’ve seen in the first two games,” Morrison said. “Their quarterback is comparable to the first two, I think he’s better than the first two. He’s mobile. If things aren’t open with the receivers, he’ll take off running which always worries a defensive coach.”

Special teams, the third facet of a football game, will also play a crucial role. Calvin had one punt for 54 yards, Brennan Hayes had one field goal, four successful point after touchdowns and five kickoffs for 277 yards. McCoy Haines had a touchback on a kickoff of his own.

“Once again, special teams will play a big part in the game against Denison,” Morrison said. “I think we’re improving tremendously on special teams. We put a lot of time in and I think our kids understand it needs to be important for us to be successful in the football game this Friday.”

Last season at Dension-Schleswig, both teams were tied at 14 at halftime. In the second half, the Panthers pitched a shut out and won 35-14

“I remember last year, the first half we left points on the field,” Morrison said. “We’d drive down in the red zone and we’d get backed up by holding calls and false starts. After that game, our focus has been eliminating turnovers, specifically the ones you can control. I thought we’ve focused on that the first two games, we have to be perfect on that. We got to minimize penalities to be successful.”

Kick is set for 7 p.m. at Panther Stadium.

Series History

1993, Denison-Schleswig 13, Creston 0; 1996, Creston 17, Denison-Schleswig 14; 1997, Denison-Schleswig 21, Creston 19; 1998, Creston 28, Denison-Schleswig 15; 1999, Denison-Schleswig 34, Creston 6; 2000, Denison-Schleswig 41, Creston 28; 2001, Creston 10, Denison-Schleswig 7; 2002, Creston 12, Denison-Schleswig 7; 2003, Creston 31, Denison-Schleswig 17; 2004, Denison-Schleswig 30, Creston 27 (1 OT); 2005, Creston 13, Denison-Schleswig 7; 2016, Creston 42, Denison-Schleswig 7; 2017, Denison-Schleswig 34, Creston 14; 2020, Denison-Schleswig 7, Creston 0; 2021, Creston 35, Denison-Schleswig 14.

Lineups

Creston(2-0, 1-0 Hawkeye 10)

OFFENSE

T Max Chapman

6-4240Jr.

G Austin Seaton

6-0195Sr.

C Jagger Luther

5-8210Jr.

G Tucker Rohrig

6-1215Jr.

T Quinten Fuller

6-2235Jr.

WR Brandon Briley

5-8145Jr.

WR McCoy Haines

5-9145Jr.

WR Dylan Calvin

6-0165Jr.

QB Kyle Strider

6-2185Sr.

RB Brennan Hayes6-0180Jr.

H Will Bolinger

5-9 180 Jr.

PAT/FG Brennan Hayes6-0 Jr.

DEFENSE

DL Max Chapman6-4240Jr.

DL Quinten Fuller

6-2235Jr.

DL Payton Conley6-0160Sr.

LB Austin Evans

5-8150Jr.

LB Ty Morrison

6-0185Sr.

LB Austin Seaton

6-0195Sr.

LB Cade Wurster

5-10170Sr.

SEC McCoy Haines5-9145Jr.

SEC Dylan Calvin

6-0165Jr.

SEC Gannon Greenwalt6-0185Sr.

SEC Cael Turner6-2165Jr.

P Dylan Calvin6-0165Jr.