No. 9-ranked Lions host Panthers

There’s a sense of urgency for the Creston football team in traveling to 3-0 Des Moines Christian Friday.

Creston, off to an 0-3 start in non-district play, begins Class 3A District 6 play next week against Atlantic on homecoming. With a defense that’s been allowing 484 yards per game (and 40.6 points) and an offense averaging 20.3 points, head coach Brian Morrison is hoping for improvement in all phases going into Friday’s 7 p.m. battle at Lions Field on the Des Moines Christian campus.

Morrison said team morale isn’t an issue despite the early struggles, but execution on the field is, and time is short to salvage a competitive season in district play.

“It’s tough, but high school kids, they have no problem rebounding,” Morrison said. “The thing is, we have to start feeling a little bit of confidence going into our first district game, and we have one shot to do that. We still have time to get some good things done.”

Creston started 0-4 in non-district play last year before finishing 4-5 and tying Nevada and Harlan for first place in the district at 4-1. The Panthers did not gain an at-large playoff berth, however, and Morrison said one more win was needed in non-district play to earn one of those spots.

Creston’s first three opponents have a combined 6-3 record to date, including Class 4A Glenwood’s 3-0 mark after running past the Panthers, 59-13, last week. So, facing a strong opponent is nothing new for the Panthers. Des Moines Christian is ranked ninth in 3A by IAfootball, an online sports media website.

Des Moines Christian is competing in Class 3A District 5 this year along with Nevada, Saydel, Williamsburg, Winterset and Knoxville. The Lions, 4-5 last year, have opened the 2025 campaign with wins over Van Meter (29-21), Roland-Story (28-7) and Atlantic (17-9).

“We have never played Des Moines Christian or really heard much about them,” Morrison said. “They played in Class 2A forever, but it’s a growing school. In looking at their starters, they are a young football team with a lot of sophomores and juniors playing on Friday night, so we’ll see these kids again next year. They’re big and athletic up front. The quarterback is a good athlete and the running back is kind of a scatback, with good speed. They have quality receivers, similar to those we’ve already been playing against this season.”

Since Creston’s next two opponents played each other last week, the Panther coaching staff took a close look at the video of the Lions’ hard-fought 17-9 win at Atlantic.

“I was impressed with Atlantic. They are getting better,” Morrison said. “It was a competitive game. Des Moines Christian had a tough time moving the ball consistently against Atlantic. Atlantic is not giving up the big play. That’s the difference for us being 2-1 and 0-3, not making the other team earn their points. We’re giving up the big chunks.”

David Tokheim is averaging 112 yards per game rushing for the Lions, with a long gain of 54 yards. Quarterback Max Towns has completed 26 of 46 passes for 298 yards and two touchdowns, with only one interception for the season. He’s also picked up 125 yards on the ground. Leading receiver Tate Olsen has 16 catches for 200 yards and one TD.

Creston has utilitzed the passing game more than Des Moines Christian. Junior quarterback Tanner Ray has completed 41 of 66 passes for 392 yards with five interceptions. He led the team last week with 104 rushing yards and has 277 for the season. Jackson Pettegrew also has 277 yards rushing and six TDs. Jace Purdum leads the receiving corps with 146 yards on 10 catches. Seth Gordon is averaging 27.4 yards per kickoff return.

Lineup changes

There are some new wrinkles to the Panther defense this week, particularly in the secondary. With a slight shoulder ailment, Davin Wallace will have less responsibility in the run defense and more duty on pass coverage at cornerback, with David Sandoval starting at Wallace’s previous safety position.

Up front, Morrison is hopeful that Tom Mikkelsen can return to nose tackle after missing last week with an ankle injury suffered against Winterset. Hayden Levine will get his second start in the defensive line if Mikkelsen is held out again.

“Tom tried to warm up last week, but just couldn’t get any push off it,” Morrison said. “With Wallace, it’s kind of what we had with Dylan Calvin (from the 11-1 2023 team). He had shoulder issues and we played him at corner. We ask a lot of our safeties in making tackles in the run game.”

The injury situation is requiring some changes in the platoon system Creston has employed the past three seasons, with players either having duty on offense or defense, but rarely both.

“We don’t have enough linemen as backups on either side,” Morrison said, “so now every offensive and defensive lineman is practicing both sides of the football for a segment of each practice. It addresses our depth issue. We had some of our D linemen helping on offense in (Monday’s) JV game.”

There will be no JV game on Monday.

“Des Moines Christian plays teams in the metro area for their JV games,” Morrison said.

Creston (0-3, 0-0)

OFFENSE

T Garrick Clausen 5-10 225 Sr.

G Michael Wofford 6-0 200 Jr.

C Chasse Downing 6-4 270 Sr.

G Gunner Martwick 6-1 250 Sr.

T Layne Sand 6-5 235 Jr.

WR Jace Purdum 6-1 170 Jr.

WR Seth Gordon 5-8 160 Sr.

TE Jameson McDonald 6-1 185 Sr.

TE Rhett Driskell 6-3 190 Jr.

QB Tanner Ray 6-0 155 Jr.

RB Jackson Pettegrew 5-10 180 Sr.

K Joaquin Flores 6-0 160 Jr.

DEFENSE

DT Tom Mikkelsen 6-1 210 Jr.

or Hayden Levine 5-11 190 Jr.

DE Ethan Holliday 6-2 200 Sr.

DE Blake Hayes 6-2 205 Jr.

OLB Coltyr Frey 5-9 160 Jr.

ILB Colby Brammer 5-6 160 Jr.

ILB Kal Barber 5-8 160 Sr.

OLB Brodrick Phelps 5-11 160 Sr.

CB Davin Wallace 5-8 170 Jr.

CB Casen Scarberry 5-10 160 Jr.

S Lane Travis 5-8 160 Sr.

S David Sandoval 5-7 140 So.

P Joaquin Flores 6-0 160 Jr.