Homecoming heartbreak

It was the highest of highs followed by the lowest of lows. After going down 23-13 against Atlantic (3-2) with five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Creston came back to score twice, taking a 27-23 lead with only 35 seconds on the clock.

After putting 14 points on the board to secure what seemed to be a comeback homecoming victory, the players and fans were ready to celebrate with a host of fireworks.

This all came crashing down as the run-dominant Trojans turned to the passing facet of their offense, quarterback Zayden Parker rolling right to throw from the 15-yard line as time was expiring.

Davin Wallace was in position in the Panthers’ secondary, but the Trojans’ Shelton Mualia used his 8-inch height advantage over Wallace to bring the ball down for the winning play.

The fans waited with baited breath as a yellow flag lay in the end zone, but the penalty on the Trojans came after the play, causing abounding heartbreak as the Panthers watched Atlantic celebrate from the visitors’ sideline.

“We had everybody covered,” head coach Brian Morrison said. “Quarterback threw it up, kid made a great catch. It was clean. We had good coverage, Wallace did, he was inside the kid, and the kid jumped up and got it.”

Desperate for a win, Creston dropped to 0-5, opening up Class 3A District 6 play with a 29-27 loss. It’s Creston’s first homecoming loss since 2020.

“It’s one of those deals where it hurts right now,” Morrison said. “There’s not much I can talk to the kids about now. They’re going to have to take time to obviously flush it at some point.”

Trick plays

Despite their record, Creston played with some impressive tricks up their sleeve, some of which helped move the sticks.

Always looking to keep their opponents on their toes, the Panthers started the game with a pass from quarterback Tanner Ray to receiver Jace Purdum, who flipped it back to running back Jackson Pettegrew for a 15-yard gain on the opening play.

Second half with an onside kick attempt that ultimately failed.

On a fourth-and-3 play early in the fourth quarter, Pettegrew took a direct snap, a tactic the Panthers have used throughout the years on short run plays with their backs. This time, however, Pettegrew didn’t keep the ball for a run, he lobbed the ball over the middle for an easy completion to tight end Jameson McDonald, converting a first down on the 18-yard passing play.

First-half tie

Creston had the ball to start the game, marching down the field to the Atlantic 16-yard line on a first-and-10.

Freshman Gabe Kaufman picked up 4 yards on the first down, but Ray was stopped for no gain on second down. On third-and-6, Ray passed to Pettegrew for another 4 yards, setting up fourth-and-2 at the 8-yard line. A false start moved the Panthers back, and Joaquin Flores put the first points of the game on the board with a 30-yard field goal. Flores was perfect Friday, 3-for-3 on extra points and 2-for-2 in field goals.

On their first possession, Atlantic put together a 6:45, 14-play drive ending with a 3-yard touchdown run by fullback Gavin McLaren. With the extra point, the Trojans led 7-3.

After a three-and-out, Creston gave Atlantic a short field. The Trojans were able to overcome penalties to set up a first-and-10 on the Panther 23-yard line, but the Creston defense came up with the stop, forcing the Trojans to settle for a field goal.

On the final possession of the half, Creston utilized both the running and passing game to put together an 80-yard drive that culminated in a touchdown.

Ray completed an 11-yard pass to Rhett Driskell and consecutive 10- and 11-yard passes to tight end Baret Lane.

Also on that drive, Pettegrew broke free for a 21-yard run and the touchdown came on a 17-yard run from Ray.

Ray spread the ball, six different receivers getting in on the action.

Purdum and senior Seth Gordon led the charge with six receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown and five receptions for 69 yards, respectively.

“Two dynamic receivers for us,” Morrison said. “Jace and Seth, there’s a lot of good receivers in our district, but they’re up there. They are elite kids for us.”

Pettegrew logged 114 rushing yards on 15 carries.

The Trojans made it into field goal range with the 32 seconds they had to work with, but the Panthers blocked the attempt, sending the teams into halftime tied.

Panther comeback

Despite the 10-point deficit with five minutes to play, the Panthers never stopped pushing.

It started with an 8-yard rushing touchdown by Pettegrew with 3:30 left to play, cutting Atlantic’s lead to three points.

It wasn’t just the offense who kept fighting. The Trojans’ Ethan McNeal ran all over the Panthers all night, putting up 216 rushing yards.

But on first-and-10, he fumbled the ball as he was tackled at the Panthers’ 37. Creston’s Kal Barber came away with the recovery, setting up a first-and-10 and a chance to either tie or take the lead in the palm of their hands.

“I thought our defense was improving with the run. It kept us in the game in the first half,” Morrison said, “They had to earn the first downs. I felt good about the effort on both sides. I thought all three phases of the game were outstanding – offense, defense and special teams.”

Senior Lane Travis led the Panther defense with 9.5 total tackles including eight solo. Barber added 8.5 total and seven solo. Ethan Holliday posted the team’s only sack.

With the ball back in the hands of the offense, it was time to get to work.

“You’ve got x-amount of time on the clock, and our kids executed at a high level,” Morrison said. “Ray was poised, he made great decisions, made great throws. Receivers made great catches, and they fought until the end.”

Penalties were a big part of this drive, the Trojans being flagged for pass interference on Pettegrew setting up a Creston first down on Atlantic’s side of the field.

Ray completed a 7-yard pass to Purdum and they converted on a run around the left side by Pettegrew. The next play saw Atlantic penalized for holding and both teams called for unsportsmanlike conduct, canceling out. Finally, on second-and-6, Creston took the lead on a 17-yard pass to Purdum.

The energy was electric as Ray motioned to the crowd to bring up the energy for the defense, but in the end, the 35 seconds was enough for Atlantic’s last ditch effort.

“They’re going to wake up tomorrow, it’s going to hurt, but they’ll be ready to go Monday,” Morrison said, “We’ve got a big game next week at Harlan. We’ve got to rebound and get better.”

The Cyclones are 1-4, coming off a loss to Carroll.

Atlantic 29, Creston 27

Points by quarter

Cr 3 7 0 17 — 27

Atl 7 3 7 12 — 29

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

Cr - Joaquin Flores 33 field goal, (8:09).

Atl - Gavin McLaren 3 run (Zander Killion kick), 1:24.

Second Quarter

Atl- Killion 34 field goal, 8:37.

Cr - Tanner Ray 17 run (Flores kick), 0:32.

Third Quarter

Atl - McLaren 1 run (Killion kick), 1:54.

Fourth Quarter

Cr - Flores 34 field goal, 10:17.

Atl - McLaren 2 run (Killion kick no good), 5:01.

Cr - Jackson Pettegrew 8 run (Flores kick), 8:17.

Cr - Jace Purdum 17 from Ray (Flores kick), 0:35.

Atl - Shelton Mualia 15 from Zayden Parker (no kick), 0:00.

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TEAM STATISTICS

CR ATL

Rushes-yards 26-197 49-260

Passing 18-29-1 7-11-0

Passing yards 107 245

Total yards 304 505

Punts-avg. 2-31.5 2-50

Fumbles lost 0 1

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — CR: Jackson Pettegrew 15-114, 1 TD; Tanner Ray 8-66, 1 TD; Gabe Kaufman, 3-17. Atl: Ethan McNeal 38-216; Gavin McLaren 11-44, 3 TDs.

PASSING — CR: Ray 17-28-1 for 227 yards, 1 TD; Pettegrew 1-1-0 for 18 yards. Atl: Zayden Parker 7-11-0 for 107 yards, 1 TD.

RECEIVING — CR: Jace Purdum 6-77, 1 TD; Seth Gordon 5-69; Rhett Driskell 2-40; Pettegrew 2-20; Baret Lane 2-21; Jameson McDonald 1-18. Atl: Shelton Mualia 2-45, 1 TD; Zander Killion, 2-39; McLaren 2-17; Brock Goodrich 1-6.

TACKLE LEADERS (solo) — CR: Travis Lane 9.5 (8), Kal Barber 8.5 (7), David Sandoval 6.5 (6), Davin Wallace 5 (4), Ethan Holliday 3.5 (3), Tom Mikkelsen 3 (2). Atl: Mualia 6.5 (6), Carter Hadley 5 (3), Grant Petty (5 (4), Jake Wailes 5 (4), Donovan Hedrington 5 (4).

INTERCEPTIONS — CR: None. Atl: Hunter Nelson (1).

FUMBLE RECOVERIES — CR: Barber 1.

TACKLES FOR LOSS — CR: Holliday 1 Atl: Jack Muller 2, Goodrich 1, Hedrington 0.5, Draven Mitchell 0.5.

SACKS — CR: Holliday 1. Atl: Goodrich 1, Mitchell 0.5, Hedrington 0.5.