The road to the Dome

In a season dedicated to the 12th man, the Panthers are about to play their 12th game Saturday in the state semifinals against Bishop Heelan Catholic at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

Every player, families, coaches, alumni and the community have played a role in Creston’s football success this season. Only the second team in Panthers’ history to make it to the Dome, this team is looking to go all the way.

Regardless of the result, through 11 weeks, this undefeated group has made history through adversity.

Youth football

With a historic 25 seniors on the team comes years of teamwork and camaraderie. Many of the parents have helped coach the boys through the years, including Travis Turner (Cael), Joe Calvin (Dylan), Kevin Sharp (Sterling), Chad Rieck (Carson), Aaron Chapman (Max), Jason Hayes (Brennan), Chad Briley (Brandon), Paul Fuller (Quinten), Eric Millslagle (Gavin), Wade Bolinger (Will) and Brian Haines (McCoy).

“When they were little I think they were just kids having fun,” Travis Turner said. “They were always pretty special, their families were special. They cared. As an entire group from parents to kids, the belief was there. That was fun.”

Joe Calvin, Kevin Sharp and Sterling Sharp all passed suddenly over the past five years, leaving a scar on the team.

“The stuff they went through was tough,” Travis Turner said. “But it made them tough and better friends. Their resiliency is fantastic.”

Before this senior class started their sophomore year, Brian Haines, Joe Calvin and Travis Turner were guessing what the season records would be. Though Joe was off in his guesses for their sophomore and junior years, his guess for the 2023 season could still come true: 13-0.

“Joe believed before believing was cool,” Travis Turner said. “Joe would be so excited. [Kevin and Joe] would be going crazy. It would be awesome. They had a lot to do with it. I think they still do.”

Dylan Calvin’s mom, Trish Dickinson, said Joe always said he couldn’t wait for the boys to come together on one field as one team. “I can’t even imagine what every night leading up to the big Friday game would have been like for Joe and Dylan,” she said. “Dylan’s phone would have been blowing up with strategies and game talk. I do know that there would have been lots of time spent in Turner’s garage followed up with some late-night phone calls with coach [Brian] Morrison. He would have known every play of every team with a master plan on how to win against each one of them. He is watching over all these boys every Friday night and is one of their biggest fans from up above.”

Center Jagger Luther has been snapping the ball to quarterback Cael Turner for nearly a decade. “These boys have played together since the padded league,” Jagger’s mom Polly Luther said. “It’s just a very special group of boys.”

Dillon Starlin’s mom Amy said the boys have always been competitive. “This group of boys, we’ve known since they were little, before even football,” she said. “They were a competitive, determined group of boys, Anything they did, they would give 110%.”

As kids, the boys were divided into three teams - Creston Red, Creston White and Creston Black. “We knew in junior high they would come together and play as one,” Wendy Hayes (Brennan) said. “This class has not lost as a team even back in junior high and as a freshman group. It’s been a fun group and fun supportive parents, and you don’t always find that.”

The boys were undefeated their freshman season, starting off with a 74-0 defeat of Boone. “We didn’t lose much as kids,” linebacker Will Bolinger said.

Despite this being only the second team in program history to go to the Dome, the boys always knew it would happen. “This is something they’ve all been talking about since they were in padded league that they were going to go to the dome,” Dena Chapman (Max) said. He’s really ready to go.”

Week One

The Panthers opened the season on a hot Friday at home hosting Winterset who would finish the season 3-6.

The game started with Creston’s characteristic slow start but finished with three combined touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

The first drive of the season ended in a turnover on downs when the Panthers couldn’t convert on fourth-and-1. Winterset responded with a drive downfield, putting up the first score of the game and leading the Panthers 7-0.

Junior wide receiver Josh Schaefer had his best game of the season that night, connecting with Turner for three touchdowns.

Senior Dillon Starlin led the defense in total tackles (8.5). Starlin and Lucas Travis each had six solo tackles to lead the team. Max Chapman came in with a sack and two tackles for loss to lead the Panthers in the backfield.

Despite not ever having the lead in the first half, Turner was confident in the team’s ability. “I never thought we weren’t going to win this game,” he said.

In Turner’s quarterback debut, he went 20-26 for 206 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 143.5 quarterback rating. Brennan Hayes finished with 201 rushing yards on 23 carries, 36 receiving yards on four receptions and a rushing touchdown.

The game was the most exciting for Stephanie Lane as her son Tom Mikkelsen earned a starting spot as a freshman.

“It’s not common we see a freshman out there,” she said. “He has had a lot that he has wanted to prove. He’s wanted to be the best teammate he could be and live up to the standard.”

Week Two

In only the second week, the Panthers would be something unusual - the underdog. Creston traveled to No. 1 ranked Class 4A team Lewis Central in what was sure to be a loss. But the Panthers believed.

The win was Creston’s first over Lewis Central since 2011 and only the Panthers’ second win over a No. 1 ranked team.

Many of the parents agreed, the 22-20 win was the season-defining game.

“You could just tell that those boys played with so much heart,” April Evans said. “Their theme this season is to play for the 12th man, and you could definitely feel that. We could feel the energy and the calmness. It was surreal. It was a huge game for their confidence.”

Meg Haines (McCoy) knew after the LC game that these boys had it in them. “I remember McCoy telling me that coach [Garrison] Carter told them not to be surprised if they were beating them by 20 at halftime,” Haines said. “I thought wow, this coach believes in this team. That’s all those boys needed.”

Trish Dickinson (Dylan Calvin) agreed, it all started with LC. “I don’t think many people believed in this team quite yet,” she said. “That was a turning point for our fans and community.”

For the second game in a row, the Panthers were down at the half. Brandon Briley and Brennan Hayes showed off Creston’s dynamic offense, Briley with a 53-yard touchdown reception and Hayes with a 73-yard touchdown run. Hayes finished with 190 yards on 27 carries.

Cael Turner completed 14 of 26 passes for 165 yards and one touchdown. Linebacker Austin Evans led an active Panther defense with nine tackles and safety Dillon Starlin had 7.5.

Amy Starlin said Dillon played his best in the LC game. “You could just see the determination on their faces and in their actions,” she said. “You could just see it was about a team. They all knew their role, owned their role, and they were out there to show people that we’re here.”

Week Three

In another showdown with a Class 4A team, the Panthers hosted Ballard in week three, but they defeated the Bombers 48-28 to remain undefeated.

Hayes caught seven passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns, along with 16 carries for 102 yards rushing and three scores. Turner had another strong performance, completing 18-28 passes for 399 yards and four touchdowns, with no interceptions. Brandon Briley caught three passes for 70 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown.

Though Briley is only 5-8, his mom Treana said he goes all out every play. “He doesn’t quit,” she said. “He’s not real big but he does everything he can to get to that ball. He’s always on the go.”

Max Chapman had five tackles for losses for Creston while Austin Evans had a team-high 8.5 tackles.

The Panthers unveiled a new wrinkle in their offense in the third quarter that led to one of three rushing touchdowns by Hayes and a 41-21 lead. On third-and-6 from the Ballard 39, receiver Tyler Riley got the handoff from Turner for what appeared to be a jet sweep to the left. However, Weston Trapp came the other direction from the left wing and took a pitch from Riley. Trapp found Turner open for a 24-yard pass completion on the right side.

Trapp’s mom, Tory Weeks, said she loves every time he gets a touchdown. “I think they’re definitely not like a team I’ve seen before,” she said. “The different trick plays they’re doing this year, it’s something they’ll remember forever.”

Week Four

The Panthers got a breather on the road against Carroll as they won 50-21 after pulling starters in the fourth quarter.

Turner led the charge, throwing 11-12 for 431 yards and scoring six touchdowns (five passing, one rushing). Since week three, Turner has led Class 3A in passing yards.

Defensive back McCoy Haines led the defense with nine solo tackles. Max Chapman logged four tackles for loss to lead the Panthers.

“Brian and I have never mastered the art of raising big kids, so they just have to jump as high as they can,” Meg Haines (McCoy) said. “It’s about timing, being at the right place at the right time. They’ll give up their bodies.”

McCoy’s older brother McClain was on the only other team to make it to the Dome in 2014. “There’s no one more excited than his brother,” Meg said. “He’s been to all the games except Harlan when he was on a business trip.”

Week Five

Though the season was far from over, it seemed to culminate to this point. The Panthers would host two-time defending state champions, the Harlan Cyclones on homecoming.

With the game on the line, the Cyclones looked for the end zone on fourth-and-9 to take the win. But it wasn’t meant to be for the Cyclones, the Panthers’ Lucas Travis and Lincoln Keeler finding the stop for a thrilling 25-22 homecoming victory.

“Beating Harlan, that was cool,” Clint Travis (Lucas) said. “I was on that 1997 team to beat them way back when. To see him play the same position I did was special.”

The game came down to a field goal by Brennan Hayes to give the Panthers their 3-point lead.

“As a parent, one of the most difficult to watch and anticipate was the field goal in the Harlan game for homecoming,” Wendy Hayes (Brennan) said. “I really didn’t watch it, my eyes were closed. I was waiting to hear the crowd’s response. That was one of the most memorable moments.”

The win was redemption for many Panther alumni including Dena Chapman. “Harlan has been a rival forever. When I was in high school, we didn’t beat them either,” she said. “It was very high energy, you could tell everyone was in it.”

Jack Walter led the defense with 11.5 total tackles including nine solo and a tackle for loss. McCoy Haines added eight total and seven solo.

Turner logged 12-24 for 127 yards and a touchdown. He also broke away for 95 rushing yards and a touchdown. Briley had four receptions for 69 yards while Hayes logged 22 carries for 92 yards and five receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown.

Week Six and Seven

The Panthers earned a 6-0 record after shutting out Atlantic 39-0 on the road in week six and found an easy 56-14 victory against Knoxville in week seven.

Turner finished 19-25 in the air for 285 yards and five touchdown passes against Atlantic. On defense, Will Bolinger had six tackles for Creston. Austin Evans had an interception and Jack Walter recovered a fumble.

Leading the defense against Knoxville was Evans with an interception, a fumble recovery for a touchdown and 5.5 tackles. Chapman and Walter led the team in total tackles with 7 and 6.5, respectively. Also coming down with interceptions for the Creston defense were McCoy Haines and Dillon Starlin.

One of the unsung heroes in the Panthers’ path to victory is the offensive line, comprised of Quinten Fuller, Gunner Martwick, Jagger Luther, Tucker Rohrig, Lucas Rushing and Brayden Schoon.

When Schoon went down with an injury, Rushing stepped in to fill the spot. “Lucas was not a starter to begin with, so he knew the pressure was on,” Lucas’s dad Skip Rushing said. “I guess what impressed me is he stepped into that role and did it with excellence. He’s been playing football his entire life. He knew what he had to do for this team and he stepped up.”

Now Schoon and Rushing trade off who plays. “They support each other,” Skip said. “They’re high-fiving, hugging, supporting. It’s really cool.”

Polly Luther said having her son as center adds extra anxiety. “He’s probably a small guy on the line compared to some of them,” she said. “The kid has to touch the ball every time. I say a lot of prayers. It’s every single game, he has to touch the ball every single time. If he doesn’t do the job, it’s a domino effect. It’s a lot of pressure, but you couldn’t ask for a better guy behind him and around him. They just complement each other.”

Even though he’s a lineman, Tucker Rohrig makes it a point to run down and celebrate every touchdown he can.

“He celebrates so hard with Brennan and Cael and Brandon Briley,” his dad Matt Rohrig said. “Those offensive linemen play well. You look at them in their street clothes and you don’t think that’s a heck of an offensive line, but none of the guys have much quit in them.”

Rohrig’s mom Heidi agreed. “We love seeing the pictures afterward,” she said. “The offensive linemen create these big holes you don’t necessarily see when it’s happening.”

Week Eight

The battle for District 6 took place on the Panthers’ home turf as they hosted Nevada on senior night Oct. 13. Two early turnovers by Nevada proved costly as Creston went on to win 42-28.

It’s the first Creston district crown since the 2011 season, with that title wrapped up in a 42-20 win at Harlan. Spencer upset the 8-1 Panthers in the first round of the playoffs that year.

In the battle of all-state running backs, Hayes finished with 186 yards and one touchdown on 29 carries against Nevada.

Jack Walter led the defense with 12 tackles. Austin Evans was next with 6.5.

In this game, Turner’s cumulative 25 touchdown passes broke the single-season record of 23 held by Alex Nielsen from the state semifinal team of 2014.

“I think all the coaching staff has done really well, Coach Morrison and Garrison changing things up,” Travis Turner said. “Cael is definitely benefiting from those guys. The whole team aspect is a big deal. Him being a leader was a bigger deal to me than how he’s played. These guys have been through more grief than most people in life. I think it’s bigger than people realize.”

Other parents agree the coaches have made a huge difference. “It’s amazing the difference it’s made,” Clint Travis said. “Coaches are taking kids from average to good and making them excellent all the way across.”

Week Nine

Perry was an easy final regular-season game, the Panthers winning 49-14, earning the first 9-0 season since 2001 and the first for Brian Morrison as a head coach in the program.

Until substantial substitutions during the second half, Creston’s defense smothered Perry’s rushing attack while building a lead with some big plays. The Panthers forced four turnovers with two interceptions each by Dylan Calvin and McCoy Haines.

From now on, it would come down to two things - survive and advance.

Week 10

It was time for a round one rematch as the Panthers would host Harlan for the second time this season. Through two games against the longtime rival, the Cyclones never led the Panthers.

Though the seniors have excelled all season, this matchup came down to a game-winning interception in the final minutes by freshman Tom Mikkelsen.

“That was quite a moment for Tom to catch that,” his mom Stephanie Lane said. “Several people asked us afterward what he was thinking not taking a knee. He thought I’m going to catch the ball and I’m going to run.”

The 35-27 victory advanced the Panthers, knocking out the defending champions.

Skip Rushing said beating Harlan twice is what stands out this season. “As long as we’ve been in this town and as many kids there are in football, I never thought I’d see this happen,” he said. “It’s been magical.”

Against Harlan, Hayes ran for 196 yards and three TDs on 27 carries. Leading the defense were Walter and Evans with 8.5 tackles. Walter had six solo and 0.5 tackles for loss. Chapman had three tackles for loss while Evans and Bolinger each had a sack.

Week 11

In the Panthers’ final home game of the season, they hosted a dominant run team in Webster City.

For seven minutes, it began to look like the end as Webster City scored 19 unanswered points to start the matchup while the Creston offense floundered.

“You knew there was a lot of time left, but you don’t want to take anything for granted,” Matt Rohrig (Tucker) said. “It was crazy to watch the guys play their game, bring it back.”

Jaxon Cherry, Webster City’s 230-pound Class 3A rushing leader, and 200-pound quarterback/spinner back Keegan Hisler seemed unstoppable in the Lynx single-wing rushing attack.

As one of the team’s top defenders, McCoy Haines was willing to put it all on the line to stop the run.

“That’s the most sore McCoy has ever been,” Meg Haines said. “He just stuck his body out there and let him run over him.”

The Panthers did not allow another touchdown until the 5:03 mark of the fourth quarter, and by that time Creston had scored 43 unanswered points to take a 43-19 lead.

Hayes had a huge night with seven receptions for 103 yards and one touchdown, in addition to a team-high 98 yards rushing and one TD on 10 carries. Briley had two scoring catches.

McCoy led the defense with 9.5 tackles while Lucas Travis, Jack Walter and Will Bolinger added seven each. Chapman had 2.5 tackles for loss and Evans logged a solo tackle.

Clint Travis said he thought this was Lucas’s best game. “I think he’s getting better every week,” Clint said. “Here by the 11th game, he’s the second-leading tackler on the team.”

Family

As this group of kids puts a bow on a decade of playing football together, the families can’t help but reminisce on the relationships built along the way.

APRIL EVANS — We’re a tight bunch of families, parents. We all support each other, support each other’s kids. It’s not about one kid, it’s about the whole team. We truly believe in every single one of those kids. If someone goes down, someone is there to pick them up. It’s magical.

MEG HAINES — I think I’ve always thought they had greatness, that they were eventually going to get to this point. There are so many great athletes, and they really love each other. They spend a lot of time together. There’s nothing like it. They’re all backing each other, getting together after games, before games.

HEIDI ROHRIG — For me especially, I think my favorite part is after the game when they take time for all those kids and parents. They take pictures with us and tell us about what really happened. They give us all big hugs. I get big hugs from Will Bolinger and Austin. It’s incredible, it’s a great feeling.

POLLY LUTHER — It’s incredible. For some of us, it’s our babies. It is absolutely incredible the amount of encouragement that these boys gets from the parents, and it’s all of us. That was super apparent Friday night after the game. You have everybody hugging everybody. It’s a very special group of people, a family.

AMY STARLIN — As a parent, any time you see your kid succeed is great, but when you see your kid do it with 25 of his classmates who have worked for and dreamed of this their whole lives it’s even better.

STEPHANIE LANE — I think this group of seniors has done a nice job setting the stage for the future. Being the youngest one, that will help Tom. I hope he’s able to step up and continue that positive mindset.

Week 12

Saturday, the Panthers face Bishop Heelan Catholic at 4 p.m. for a chance to play in the state championship game Nov. 17 and earn Creston’s first football title in program history.

For Meg Haines, it’s deja vu. “Our sons are 10 years apart, our older son played on the last dome team,” she said. “It was pretty exciting.” That team also played Bishop Heelan, but fell 59-14 to the powerhouse team.

“It’s nice to see it coming together,” Amy Starlin said. “It’s nice to see them celebrating each other. They know everyone makes a difference, no matter their role on the team.”

April Evans said this season has been magical. “This is exactly what they said they wanted to do when they were little,” she said. “This is the dream team. This is their moment. There’s been lots of ups and downs over the years, but they’ve never given up, and they truly believe in each other. It’s like the stars all aligned for the kids and for our families.”

Game preview will be in Friday’s edition of the CNA.