Contributed photo by MEG HAINES, M Photography
As Kenny Chesney sings in his song, “The Boys of Fall,” it’s that time of year to kick off the season, and “You mess with one man you got us all” is an appropriate verse for the 18-member senior class on the Creston/Orient-Macksburg team. Shown from left are seniors Tayler Pettit (57), Jordan Thompson (75), Bryce Briley (82), Chad Lamb (51), Jake MIller (58), Alex Nielsen (7), McClain Haines (15), Sam Hartsock (4), Conner Pals (2), Tyson Tucker (3), Cory Rathe (59), Connor Kinkace (31), Alex Tamerius (40), Christian Groumoutis (5), Jake Gutschenritter (65) and a jersey representing the late Dalton Hribal (71). Not pictured, Spencer Wray and manager Tanner Webb.
Panthers bring experience to new district lineup Dallas Center-Grimes, Winterset join new District 8 By LARRY PETERSON
CNA sports writer • lpeterson@crestonnews.com
Two years ago, Creston/O-M had to replace the likes of then-Iowa State recruit Collin Bevins, now a starting defensive lineman at Northwest Missouri State. Last year, the Panthers had to fill the shoes of playmaker Luke Neitzel, Briar Evans and all-state lineman Keaton Hulett, also at Northwest Missouri State as a defensive line candidate. Evans, sidelined by a knee injury, is at Morningside College along with former Panther Alan Smith. So, with the Panthers having to replace 2013 stars such as all-state linebacker Trevor Frain, all-state center Nate Haley, 1,000-yard rusher Adam Baker, quarterback Brandon Phipps, receiver Maxx Walters and linebackers Gavin Leith and Levi Eblen, head coach Brian Morrison finds himself in familiar territory this fall. “When you look at it, we lost all of our (offensive) numbers,” Morrison said. “But to stay a quality program, new people have to step up. Harlan loses those numbers every year, but they replace them with kids in their system and they perform.” Morrison Morrison and the rest of the Panther coaching staff have strong numbers to choose from. In fact, in Morrison’s fifth year at the helm, this is his largest squad with 70 total players, including 49 in grades 10-12. “That’s the highest number we’ve had,” Morrison said. “We have 18 seniors. On
paper we do return quite a bit on defense, but we lose some key players like everybody does. Three of our first four games are nondistrict. So, we should be full-bore by the time we hit the district schedule.” With Lewis Central moving up to Class 4A, at least one change in the team’s district was assured for 2014 and 2015. Perry is also relocated. New teams are Dallas Center-Grimes and Winterset, both of which had been non-district opponents in past years. DC-G was a district champion and second-round playoff team last year. The district is now known as District 8. Glenwood, ADM, Harlan and Atlantic remain as district opponents. Clarinda and Greene County (Jefferson) are the other non-district foes after the Panthers host Norwalk in Friday’s season-opener. “When you look throughout the state, I don’t think you can find a stronger 3A district except maybe the one that has (2013 4A runner-up) Cedar Rapids Xavier and Solon, and about four other teams competing for playoff spots. Our district has always been like that, with multiple teams contending and one game maybe swinging you from fourth place to first place.” That was the situation last year, when the Panthers ended up 3-3 in district play and were seeded fourth, forced to travel to state champion Sioux City Bishop Heelan in the first round. This year, Harlan, Dallas Center-Grimes and Creston/O-M are considered key playoff contenders, but Winterset returns most of its key players and ADM could be strong again. Glenwood, likewise, under Greenfield native Cory Faust as head coach, seems to be a program moving forward.
It will be a scramble again for one of the four coveted playoff spots, and Morrison hopes this edition of the Panthers can break new ground. The team has made the playoffs three straight years, but has gone 0-3 in those firstround games, including two to state runnerup and state champion Heelan in successive years. There are 31 returning lettermen, which lends to good depth at several positions.
Offense Senior Alex Nielsen, a starting safety last year with four interceptions, succeeds Phipps at quarterback this year and will rarely see any defensive duty. Morrison said Nielsen has been a quick study in some of the new offensive wrinkles brought in by assistant Nielsen Ryan McKim, this year’s offensive coordinator. McKim was a special teams quality control coach at Oklahoma University last year. He has rejoined the program he left two years ago to become a graduate assistant coach for Paul Rhoads at Iowa State. “The biggest change is the organization part in how we practice and organize ourselves,” Morrison said. “We’ve simplified our terminology. We have the same plays as the last four years, just with some variations off those mainstays. “Alex Nielsen had done an outstanding job in the offseason and this summer,” Morrison said. “There won’t be a lot of teams that know about him playing quarterback, because he only played a couple of JV games since he was starting for us on de-
fense. I think he will be a surprise for a lot of people in our district.” With junior Josh Reed not out this year after suffering a neck injury last year and aggravating that ailment in camp this summer, Nielsen’s backups are senior receiver McClain Haines and sophomore Seth Thompson. “Haines has picked it up and is running the offense efficiently,” Morrison said. Last year Baker rushed for 1,159 yards, second only to Harlan’s Nate Gettys in the district, and his primary blocker out of the backfield was Frain. Both are gone this year. But guard Seth Maitlen, a running back in middle school, moves to Frain’s spot in the backfield, and there’s a stable of candidates to succeed Baker as a primary ball-carrier. Among them are senior Conner Pals, one of the state’s outstanding placekickers, sophomore Chase Shiltz and senior Alex Tamerius, who missed last season with a reoccurring knee injury. Morrison said Tamerius is healthy now and ready to step into the starting line- Pals backer spot he held as a sophomore. “Alex is 100 percent and he’s excited,” Morrison said. “This year we have more depth at running back than we’ve had since I’ve been here.” Likewise, wide receiver is a strong position for Creston/O-M, even with the loss of Walters and Jesse Rathe. Seniors Christian Groumoutis, Haines, Please see CRESTON/O-M FB, page 4C
2014 HIGH SCHOOL FALL SPORTS GUIDE
READER’S GUIDE
The 2014 High School Fall Sports Guide provides an outlook of all our area schools’ athletic teams. Inside the cover are team photos, season schedules and team capsules, plus previews of each area football team. The index of teams is as follows:
Creston: pages 1-3 Orient-Macksburg: page 4 Mount Ayr: page 5 Southwest Valley: pages 6-7 Nodaway Valley: page 8 Lenox: page 9 East Union: page 10 Murray: page 11 Diagonal: page 12