Creston’s pod includes state leaders

Five players in the Class 3A Pod A playoff grouping are statistical category leaders entering the first round of playoff games Friday night.

The top three teams from Class 3A District 6 — Creston, Nevada and Harlan — are in Pod A along with Webster City, runner-up behind Clear Lake in District 2. One of those four will advance to the semifinal round in the UNI-Dome.

Creston’s Cael Turner is the Class 3A passing leader with 2,258 yards and 28 touchdowns through nine games. Three of the top 10 passers in 3A are in the pod, including Will Arkfeld of Harlan ranked fourth with 1,813 yards and Nevada’s Conner King 10th with 1,466 yards.

Webster City, almost exclusively a running team, has three ball carriers in the top 28 of Class 3A rushing, including yardage leader Jaxson Cherry (1,499 yards and 21 TDs). Cason Stevenson of Nevada is the second-leading 3A rusher with 1,454 yards and Creston’s Brennan Hayes is fourth at 1,351 yards.

Cherry is also the 14th-leading tackler in 3A with 62.5, just behind Harlan linebacker Matthew Sorfondon (64.5).

Creston defensive end Max Chapman leads 3A in tackles for loss at 20.5. Cherry is second with 19.0.

Two players tied for the state lead in interceptions are from Pod A, as Nevada’s Kyle Kingsbury and Creston’s Dylan Calvin each have five takeaways. Panther safety McCoy Haines is right behind with four interceptions.

The players from Pod A ranked high in each category:

Passing — 1. Cael Turner, Creston, 128-197-5 for 2,251 yards and 28 TD; 4. Will Arkfeld, Harlan, 117-209-10 for 1,813 yards and 19 TD; 10. Conner King, Nevada, 77-128-6 for 1,466 yards and 20 TD; 37. Keegan Hisler, Webster City, 10-29-3 for 169 yards and 2 TD.

Rushing — 1. Jaxson Cherry, Webster City, 194-1,499 yards and 21 TD; 2. Cason Stevenson, Nevada, 166-1,454 yards and 15 TD; 4. Brennan Hayes, Creston, 155-1,351 yards and 12 TD; 25. Keegan Hisler, Webster City, 118-620 yards and 6 TD; 28. Cael Nixon, Webster City, 91-588 yards and 3 TD; 42. Noah Schmitz, Harlan, 91-449 yards and 5 TD.

Receiving — 5. Brennan Hayes, Creston, 32-722 yards and 7 TD; 6. Kyle Kingsbury, Nevada, 35-707 yards and 11 TDs; 7. Brehden Eggerss, Harlan, 41-696 yards and 8 TD; 9. Brandon Briley, Creston, 33-638 yards and 10 TD; 12. Jacob Khounsourath, Nevada, 27-611 yards and 8 TD; 20. Cade Sears, Harlan, 23-487 yards and 7 TD; 26. Jozief Reisz, Harlan, 28-393 yards and 3 TD.

Tackles — 3. Jackson Burlage, Nevada, 89.5; 12. Anthony Eaton, Nevada, 68.5; 13. Mathew Sorfonden, Harlan, 64.5; 14. Jaxson Cherry, Webster City, 62.5; 28. Austin Evans, Creston, 54.5; 30. Austin Waldera, Nevada, 53.0; 32. Isaac Williams, Nevada, 52.5; 42. Dillon Starlin, Creston, 49.0; 45. Jack Walter, Creston, 48.5.

Tackles for loss — 1. Max Chapman, Creston, 20.5; 3. Jaxson Cherry, Webster City, 19.0; 10. Jayden Weinzetl, Webster City, 13.5; 16. Matthew Sorfonden, Harlan, 12.0; 21. Anthony Eaton, Nevada, 11.0; 27. Jackson Burlage, Nevada, 10.0; 38. Hayden Soma, Harlan, 8.5.

Interceptions — 1. (tie) Kyle Kingsbury, Nevada, 5; and Dylan Calvin, Creston, 5; 5. (tie) Isaac Williams, Nevada, 4; and McCoy Haines, Creston, 4; 15. (tie) Jacob Khounsourath, Nevada, 3; and Austin Evans, Creston, 3; 28. (tie) Landen Kaufman, Harlan 2; Quinn Koesters, Harlan, 2; and Matthew Sorfonden, Harlan, 2.