Two teams looking for a break

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Two football teams trying to salvage a positive second half of the 2008 season square off Friday for Creston/O-M’s homecoming. But, chances are good it won’t measure up to the teams’ last meeting. Kalab Evans scored a two-point conversion run in the third overtime to lift Creston/O-M to a 46-45 victory last October at Panther Field, ending a 2 1/2-hour battle. “Evans was unbelievable against us last year, and that indeed was a crazy game,” said Atlantic coach Gaylord Schelling. There has been a shortage of memorable moments for both teams this year, each taking a 1-4 record into Friday’s 7:30 p.m. contest. Atlantic is 1-2 in district play and Creston/O-M is 0-3. New quarterbacks Both teams have been hit by injuries. Atlantic lost third-year starting quarterback Jacob Hartwig on the first series of the opening game against Clarinda with a broken collarbone. If he returns at all, it would be in the final two weeks. Likewise, Creston/O-M senior quarterback Grant Wood was battling a shoulder injury since the opener against Chariton, and last week did not play at all as the condition worsened during a defeat at Lewis Central. With a tear in a shoulder ligament, he is unlikely to return this season. Both Schelling and Creston/O-M coach Dick Bergstrom have seen improvement in their new quarterbacks. Senior Zach Christianson, a converted receiver, is guiding the Trojan offense. “He’s a good athlete and throws well at times, but he hasn’t played the position since his sophomore year, so he needed some reps,” Schelling said. Creston/O-M is going with sophomore Luke Eblen. With only one start and a handful of reserve appearances for the injured Wood, Eblen is already sixth in passing in the district at 32-of-69 for 298 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Christianson is seventh at 20-of-56 for 287 yards and three interceptions with two TDs. Wood still ranks third at 512 yards on 59-of-102. “Luke listens and works hard to get better,” Bergstrom said. To date, Creston/O-M has shown the better offense at 210 yards per game to Atlantic’s 135, but neither team is converting drives into points, averaging 12.0 and 11.4 points per game, respectively. Rushing woes Both have also struggled to develop a running game. Between them, the leading rusher is Creston/O-M’s Tony Cruz, ranking 12th in the district with 128 yards in five games. However, seven Panther receivers are among the top 19, for a more variety of weapons. Atlantic has relied on senior receiver Jacey Hoegh and state hurdles champion Jordan Mullen, who has game-breaking potential with a recent move from wingback to tailback. “We try to get him the ball because he does have speed,” Schelling said. “He has a kick return for a touchdown and almost broke one against LC last week. We rotate Keenan Benn in there because Jordan isn’t physical enough to take the pounding on every play.” Atlantic has had more success defensively, limiting teams to 211 yards per game and 24 points, while the Panthers have yielded 353 yards and 36.8 points. “One thing I like about this game,” Bergstrom said, “is that while Mullen has speed, they don’t have that big, fast back that just punishes you like so many teams have had against us this year. Blankenship (Glenwood) and Gnader (LC) were both 210 pounds and fast. Lohnes of LC was quick and physical. Grinnell and ADM had good backs that were hard to tackle. It’s been tough.” Not making it easier is the amount of injuries. Last week, linemen Nick Neitzel and Aaron Paup did not play. In addition, Jared Bevins, Kevin Irr, Travis Kipp and Michael Tucker left the game with injuries. Before that, a comeback didn’t seem impossible. “We had two good drives to finish the first half, and scored on the second one to cut it to 20-6,” Bergstrom said. “We felt good at halftime. Then they come out and return the opening kickoff for a touchdown, and not long after that they went 65 yards on a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-one. He just kind of slid outside and made it a footrace. That made it 33-6 and we lost that enthusiasm we had coming out of halftime.” Injury update This week, Neitzel is still questionable with a back injury and Paup is doubtful with a bad shoulder. Irr, Kipp and Bevins are all expected back. Tucker, however, is out for the year because of head injuries, and reserve defensive tackle Cody Nordstrom is out this week with a groin muscle injury. This is also the first week of academic eligibility for receiver/defensive back Brent Young and linebacker Jeremy Hayes, both seniors, but Hayes has been sidelined by mononucleosis. Atlantic could be more of a challenge than anticipated, Bergstrom warned, despite only one victory (40-22 over Winterset) this season. It was the only time this year that a line led by 300-pound senior Kasey Juhl consistently kept drives going. “Our score with Lewis Central at half was 41-0,” Bergstrom noted. “Atlantic led Lewis Central 7-6 at the half, and it was still 7-6 entering the fourth quarter. It ended up a 24-7 loss. All season long they’ve played decent defense, but their defense has had to be on the field so much that they occasionally give up some points. But not like we have.” So, it looks to be Creston/O-M’s slight edge in offense against Atlantic’s defensive advantage. “We’re just trying to get better, and we still think we have a chance to be in the top four of our district,” Schelling said. “We’ve already played Harlan and Lewis Central. We still have Glenwood at home, then Clarke and ADM. Obviously this game Friday night is pretty important if we’re going to do anything.” “We are what we are,” Bergstrom said, “but we think we’re at a part of our schedule where we can compete and win some games. We’d like to get that started on Friday night.” Game Facts Who: Atlantic at Creston/O-M What: Class 3A District 8 game Where: Panther Field When: 7:30 p.m. Friday (freshman game at 5 p.m.) Last meeting: Creston/O-M 46, Atlantic 45, in three overtimes Oct. 12, 2007, at Panther Field. Kalab Evans scored a 2-point run after scoring from 10 yards in the third overtime. The game was tied 24-24 at the end of regulation. The win tied the Panthers with Atlantic for third place in District 8 at 3-2. Evans had three rushing touchdowns and 146 yards on 31 carries. Grant Wood was 7-of-13 passing for 79 yards and two touchdowns, and also ran for a 33-yard gain before tossing to Luke Schroder for a touchdown. Galen Geidel had nine tackles for the Panther defense. Atlantic state hurdles champion Jordan Mullen caught three passes for 90 yards and a touchdown. Junior quarterback Jacob Hartwig was 12-of-27 for 233 yards and two TDs. Last week: No. 8 Lewis Central improved to 5-0 with a 24-7 victory over Atlantic (1-4). Quarterback Zach Christianson scored Atlantic’s only touchdown on a 1-yard run in the third quarter after a blocked LC punt. Atlantic led 7-6 entering the fourth quarter. LC had a field goal early in the fourth, and came back with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Dalton Germann to Eric Toole. Atlantic suffered a bobbled snap for a safety and gave up another late touchdown for the final margin. Creston/O-M (1-4) lost 46-6 at Glenwood (2-3). The Panthers had driven for a late touchdown in the first half to trail 20-6, but gave up a kickoff return touchdown to start the second half and a 65-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-one quarterback sneak to fall behind 33-6. Four Panthers left the game with injuries and only 29 dressed for the varsity game. Dylan Blankenship ran for 149 yards and two TDs for Glenwood. Luke Eblen completed 16 passes for 104 yards in his first start for Creston/O-M. Coaches: Creston/O-M — Dick Bergstrom (32nd season, 38th overall), career record 199-147; Atlantic — Gaylord Schelling (17th season). Creston/O-M (1-4, 0-3) OFFENSE WR Spencer Bakerink 6-5 180 Jr. TE Jared Bevins 6-1 200 Jr. T Jordan Hayes 6-1 220 So. G Brandon Frey 6-0 180 Sr. C Keaton Lundquist 5-10 200 Jr. G Jackson Foreman 5-9 180 Jr. T Joe Putzier 6-4 240 Sr. FL Kevin Irr 5-7 155 Jr. QB Luke Eblen 5-10 165 So. RB Tony Cruz 5-9 160 Sr. SB Seth Pals 5-8 155 Jr.

DEFENSE DE Keaton Lundquist 5-10 200 Jr. T Ryan Maitlen 6-2 290 Jr. T Jordan Hayes 6-1 220 So. DE Pete Myers 6-2 180 Sr. OLB Todd Ramaeker 5-9 160 Sr. MLB Jared Bevins 6-1 200 Jr. OLB Brandon Frey 6-0 180 Sr. SS Clay Daggett 5-8 165 Sr. CB Seth Pals 5-8 155 Jr. CB Tony Cruz 5-9 160 Sr. FS Kevin Irr 5-7 155 Jr.

Atlantic (1-4, 1-2) OFFENSE SE Alec Guttenfelder 5-11 151 Jr. OT David Iekel 5-11 180 Sr. OG Jeremy Petersen 6-4 220 Sr. C Chet Meneely 6-3 185 Jr. OG Kasey Juhl 6-6 300 Sr. OT Jim Swanson 6-0 190 Jr. TE Jacey Hoegh 6-4 201 Sr. WB Russ Fairfield 5-9 165 Jr. QB Zach Christianson 6-1 168 Sr. FB Rich Nichols 5-9 195 Jr. TB Jordan Mullen 6-1 160 Sr. DEFENSE DT Jim Swanson 6-0 190 Jr. NG Kasey Juhl 6-6 300 Sr. DT Jeremy Petersen 6-4 220 Sr. OLB Zach Knuth 6-0 189 Sr. ILB Chet Meneely 6-3 185 Jr. ILB Rich Nichols 5-9 195 Jr. OLB David Iekel 5-11 180 Sr. CB Keenan Benn 5-10 150 Sr. CB Russ Fairfield 5-9 165 Jr. SS Dustin Holtz 5-9 185 Sr. FS Jordan Mullen 6-1 160 Sr. —————— Larry Peterson can be reached at 782-2141, ext. 232 or lpeterson@crestonnews.com