December 18, 2024

Middle school teams close with Winterset

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The Creston/O-M seventh grade football team recently completed an undefeated season. Team members were from left in front, Lincoln Keeler, Chasin Luther, Dillon Starlin, Gavin Bolton, Jack Walter, Conner Wiley, Christian Ahrens, Gavin Millslagle and Landon Lovely. Second row, Cael Turner, Will Bolinger, Maxwell Skellener, Ayden Foster, Boone Pryor, Dane Swedlund, Thayer Rooney, Jackso Kerr, Brennan Hayes, Austin Evans, McCoy Haines, Daniel Buls, Diedrick Harris and Izzy Pierce. Third row, Brady Burton, Antoine Lillie, Mason Gift, Carson Rieck, Deakon Mullen, Talon Bolinger, Damion Meyer, Carson Cooper, Wyatt Barber, Dravin Drake, Lucas Rushing and Trevin Zancanelli. Back row, Quinten Fuller, Denton Lane, Jagger Luther, Dylan Calvin, Brandon Briley, Kaitlyn Farlow, Savanah Sistad, Tony Davidson, Max Chapman, Miles White, Tucker Rohrig, Sam Henry and Diego Rivas. Coaches were Dick Clark and Jerry Hartman. Managers were Dylan Hoepker, Chris Chen and Ben Hill. (Contributed photo)

8th football

WINTERSET — The Creston/O-M eighth-grade football team ended its season in a 9-6 loss to Winterset on Oct. 22.

An errant Creston/O-M punt snap deep in Panther territory led to Winterset opening the scoring at 2-0 on a safety. Creston/O-M answered with an eight-minute drive, capped by a 21-yard touchdown run by Trey Chesnut.

Winterset regained the lead on a long touchdown run on the first play of the second half to take a 9-6 lead.

Coach Todd Jacobson said the Panthers had a chance in Husky territory on the final drive, but two costly penalties preceded an intercepted pass.

Chesnut led the team with 48 yards rushing and Gannon Greenwalt finished with five receptions for 51 yards. Austin Seaton had a team-high 12 tackles for Creston/O-M which finished 3-4 for the season.

Winterset won the B game 20-0. Creston/O-M’s rushing attack was led by Owen Henderson with 31 yards.

“I am really proud of these players this season,” Jacobson said. “They were a great group to work with. We lost several close games this season, but they showed that they can play great football. I look forward to seeing them on Fright nights playing for Panther football.”

7th football

The Creston/O-M seventh-grade football team stayed undefeated, technically, in a season-ending 8-8 tie with Winterset on Oct. 22 at Panther Field.

Winterset scored on a sustained drive in the first quarter on a quarterback sneak by Lucas Linde. Trey Hockenmeier ran in the two-point conversion to push the Huskies in front, 8-0.

Creston/O-M drove to the Huskies’ 11-yard line, but a penalty brought the ball back to the 24. Dylan Calvin then threw to a wide-open Brandon Briley for an apparent touchdown, but again the play was nullified by penalty.

“Our linemen were not getting set before the ball was snapped and it cost us,” said C/O-M coach Jerry Hartman “We needed to be more disciplined and we did a much better job as the game moved on.”

Creston/O-M again drove to the Husky 27, but was stopped on downs to go into halftime trailing 8-0.

On the opening drive in the second half, Calvin scampered 33 yards and Austin Evans broke through to the Winterset 1-yard line. Calvin then dove in for the score late in the third quarter. Calvin also score the two-point conversion to tie the game.

Winterset had the ball late in the fourth quarter at the Panther 39 before Briley and Evans stopped Kate White from reaching the line-to-gain on fourth down.

A long pass attempt by Calvin on the final play of the game was batted down.

“According to the Iowa High School Athletic Association, there are no overtimes in football at any level below varsity,” Hartman said. “These two teams each fought hard and it was a fun game. Kind of fitting to end in a tie.”

In the second game, the Panther defense took control early. Tony Davidson broke through the line for a 5-yard sack. Wyatt Barber and Denton Lane combined for a tackle for a 3-yard loss.

Two plays later, the Panthers took over deep in Winterset territory. Four plays later Gavin Bolton crossed the goal line on a 19-yard run, set up by the blocking of Max Skellinger, Davidson and Brennan Hayes. Creston/O-M led 6-0.

Winterset answered to go in front, 8-6. The Panthers controlled the ball much of the second quarter but came up short of the goal line.

“We had our opportunities in that period, but could not get the ball to the right guy at the right time,” said Creston/O-M coach Dick Clark. “These little guys were giving all they had but would have a miscue here or there and just couldn’t get it in.”

A 55-yard touchdown run on the opening possession of the second half put Winterset into a 14-6 lead. The Huskies followed with a 20-yard touchdown pass to take a 20-6 lead.

Cael Turner had runs of 28 and 11 yards to get Creston/O-M in scoring position on the next possession. After a facemask penalty on Winterset, Landon Lovely ran for a 3-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 20-12.

An onside kickoff was returned 18 yards by Winterset, with a tackle by Davidson saving a possible Husky touchdown.

“Tony came from clear across the field and just made an outstanding play,” Clark said. “I thought that kid was gone, but Tony caught him.”

On the next snap Carson Rieck snatched the ball from a Winterset runner and Antoine Lillie recovered the ball to give the Panthers another shot, but time ran out after three plays from scrimmage.

“I tell you what, these boys never gave up,” Clark said. “This season was a lot of fun. We had a ton of kids out and we hope they continue to work hard and come out again next year. We hope that next year’s seventh graders come out with big numbers again, too. That is great for the Panther football program.”