Panthers to face air attack

Everything is set up for Creston to be playing for an outright district championship on senior night Oct. 13, but that requires taking care of business this Friday at Knoxville.

While the Knoxville Panthers (2-4) are hosting the Creston Panthers (6-0), Nevada (5-1, 2-0 district) is holding its senior night game Friday against Harlan (4-2, 1-1). If Harlan would win that game, then Nevada would arrive in Creston next week with a chance to beat the Panthers and create a three-way tie for the District 6 championship.

If Nevada defeats Harlan Friday, the Cubs will be poised to face Creston for the outright district championship, should both teams win in week nine. (Creston closes at Perry, Nevada ends at Atlantic. Harlan’s final two opponents are Atlantic and Knoxville.)

To stay on track for a district championship and hopes of hosting two playoff rounds, Creston needs to win Friday against a Knoxville team coming off a 43-0 loss last week to Nevada.

For the season, Knoxville owns victories of 34-7 over South Tama (0-6) and 50-0 over Des Moines Hoover (0-6). Knoxville opened the season with two narrow defeats in non-district play, 15-14 against Boone and 41-40 to Clarke. Atlantic edged Knoxville 20-17 a week prior to the Panthers getting shut out by Nevada.

“They probably should have won that Atlantic game, but it’s just tough when you have trouble running the ball and you’re relying so much on moving the ball by just passing,” Creston coach Brian Morrison said.

Blocking for the run game hasn’t developed yet for the Knoxville Panthers, whose leading rusher (Hayden Willoughby) has just 121 yards in six games, with four touchdowns.

Quarterback Noah Keefer has shared the position with Brenden Woosley, but still ranks 16th in Class 3A passing with 803 yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. Creston’s Cael Turner leads Class 3A with 1,613 yards on 94 completions in 141 attempts with only one interception (last week against Atlantic) and 20 touchdowns.

Three Knoxville receivers have at least 16 receptions. Koby Higgenbottom has 20 catches for 340 yards and four TDs. Connor Willis has 20 catches for 203 yards and two TDs, while Jay Kellar has 199 yards and two TDs on 16 catches.

“Their quarterback throws a good ball and they have three good receivers,” Morrison said. “Number 1 (Willis) is their playmaker, they put him everywhere. Against Nevada they picked up some chunks of yardage in the pass game. But, against a team like that it’s tough without a run game.”

The Knoxville defense faces a challenge Friday against Creston’s offense that ranks first in the state in passing yards (1,658) and 13th in rushing (1,107). Excluding 8-player football, running back Brennan Hayes is the only player in Classes A-5A ranking in the top three receiving and top 10 rushing in his class.

Hayes is second in 3A receiving at 632 yards and six touchdowns, and is eighth in rushing with 773 yards and six TDs. Teammate Brandon Briley is ninth with 452 yards on 24 catches with six touchdowns. Josh Schaefer has 22 catches for 182 yards. The versatile Weston Trapp was 3-3 passing for 45 yards while also running for 38 yards and catching five passes for 66 yards.

Improving defense

Morrison said Creston’s defense continues to improve, as well. Atlantic managed only 21 yards rushing and 105 passing in getting shut out 39-0 by the Panthers last week.

“We were really good in the front eight against the run,” Morrison said. “That’s the best we’ve played, as far as being fundamentally sound in our responsibilities. Our secondary is playing really well against the run and the pass, and they’ve been tested by some really good receivers.”

Dylan Calvin is tied for fourth in Class 3A with three interceptions, and outside linebacker Austin Evans got his second pick last week. He leads the team in total tackles (39) and safety Dillon Starlin is next with 35.5. Inside linebackers Lucas Travis and Will Bolinger have 32.5 and 31, respectively. Defensive end Max Chapman is fourth in 3A with 13.5 tackles for loss.

Third on RPI

Creston still ranks second on the Associated Press Class 3A poll and is listed No. 3 on the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Ratings Percentage Index list, used to determine the at-large playoff berths. That is based on record, opponent’s records and the records of their opponents’ opponents.

There is no credit given for playing up a class as Creston did with three 4A foes in the non-district schedule, but Lewis Central and Ballard appear to be headed for winning records, which helps. Of the other non-district teams, Carroll is 1-5 and Winterset is 2-4.

“There were teams closer to us that weren’t in 4A that didn’t want to play us, like Clarinda, Clarke and Chariton, so in our part of the state we were left with what we got and played a lot of 4A schools,” Morrison said. “Fortunately we went 3-0 against the 4A teams, but you don’t get any credit for doing that. Our choices were limited.”

The only change to Creston’s lineup Friday is in the offensive line, as offensive tackle Brayden Schoon is out for an undetermined amount of time with a knee injury. Lucas Rushing, 6-3, 250-pound senior, steps into a starter’s role.

Projected starters

OFFENSE

WR — Brandon Briley, Sr., 150

WR — Tyler Riley, Jr., 125

TE — Carson Rieck, Sr., 160

TE — Josh Schaefer, Jr., 170

OT — Quinten Fuller, Sr., 230

G — Gunner Martwick, So., 220

C — Jagger Luther, Sr., 205

G — Tucker Rohrig, Sr., 225

OT — Lucas Rushing, Sr., 250

QB — Cael Turner, Jr., 165

RB — Brennan Hayes, Sr., 195

PK — Hayes

DEFENSE

DE — Max Chapman, Sr., 260

NT — Tom Mikkelsen, Fr., 210

DE — Jackson Kerr, Sr., 205

OLB — Milo Staver, Sr. 175

ILB — Will Bolinger, Sr., 175

ILB — Luke Travis, Jr., 180

OLB — Austin Evans, Sr., 160

CB — Dylan Calvin, Sr., 165

CB — Jack Walter, Sr., 170

S — Dillon Starlin, Sr., 125

S — McCoy Haines, Sr., 155

P — Turner