With an exhale
By KYLE WILSON
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kwilson@crestonnews.com
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OSCEOLA — Clarke quarterback Joe Lampe never saw Creston/O-M linebacker Jared Bevins. The junior signal caller dropped back and fired a pass directly into the chest of Bevins’ partially white, partially mud-filled jersey with one minute remaining in the fourth quarter Friday evening.
Mute of noise all evening, the Creston/O-M bleachers were then upright, and audible.
As if to say, with a exhale: We made substate, we’re playing another game.
With Bevins interception, followed by another by Kevin Irr on a desperation hailmary by Lampe, the Panthers handled a dangerous Clarke opponent 28-20 at Clarke Stadium, earning their first substate berth in the two-year existence of the new playoff format.
“We did what we had to do to finish the game,” Bevins said. “They’ve played close with everyone this year. We knew it wouldn’t be an easy game. They surprised our defense in the first half but once we got our heads in the game, we were fine.”
And actually, two surprises were in store for Creston/O-M — the success of the Indians helter-skelter single wing offense and a prolonged scoreboard malfunction.
With five minutes remaining in the opening quarter, the scoreboard and the press box were completely blacked out. Both were unavailable the remainder of the game.
Meanwhile, the Clarke offense clicked. After Creston/O-M’s initial touchdown by Irr with 7:04 remaining in the first, Clarke proceeded to score three touchdowns, including a 28-yard hookup from Lampe to Valentin Torres with less than one minute to play in the half.
Clarke (1-8, 0-7), had Creston/O-M nervous, holding a 20-14 advantage at intermission.
“They may very well be as good as any 1-8 team in the state,” Creston/O-M head coach Dick Bergstrom said following the victory. “They throw the ball a little bit, but they run the ball exceptionally well.”
Story change
Offensively, Clarke was inept in the second half, they threatened just once. Meanwhile, the Creston/O-M spread offense found some tempo.
Early in the fourth quarter, Creston/O-M clung to a 21-20 advantage. Clarke had the ball on the Panther 32-yard line and Lampe swung out left with plenty of room to run. He ran by the first line of defenders and sprinted into the red zone, all the way to the 5-yard line.
But the play was negated.
Clarke was called for holding.
The Panthers stood strong from there, taking the ball over on downs at the 32-yard line. Creston/O-M had two touchdowns in the second half, both by Irr. The go-ahead touchdown was a 53-yard run with 2:23 left in the third.
The best offensive drive for the Panthers was in the fourth quarter. Creston/O-M quarterback Luke Eblen connected with Collin Bevins three times on the scoring drive, moving the ball inside the 10-yard line. Eblen then rifled a 7-yard touchdown to Irr. The senior wide receiver was tackled hard by two defenders but controlled the ball all the way to the grass.
Irr finished with 10 carries for 83 yards and four touchdowns. Bevins, despite pain in his lower back, is becoming a reliable option in the passing game. He had five catches for 84 yards.
“He’s 6-5. Collin is a big target. He runs that crossing route over the middle and runs it real well,” Eblen said. “It’s hard to miss a guy that big running wide open across the middle. That was our best drive. That was our best protection. We had the mindset of, we need to score now.”
The Panthers had injuries Friday. Spencer Bakerink was limited to defense because of stitches in his hand. The senior underwent stitches after his hand was caught on a helmet last week in practice. Safety Luke Neitzel wore a black protective homemade cast on his injured right hand, but played all four quarters. Michael Tucker went to a physician following the game for a knee injury.
The good news, Seth Pals returned to the lineup after missing two games with a broken collar bone. His play was limited. He was the placeholder on Creston/O-M’s final extra point and played occasionally at wide receiver in the fourth quarter.
The Panthers now face Sioux City Bishop Heelan, ranked No. 3 in Class 3A. The Panthers will travel to Sioux City Wednesday, opening kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
With a win Creston/O-M will make the playoffs. The Panthers last playoff appearance was in 2006, led by quarterback G.G. Harris. The Panthers lost in the opening round that year, 28-14, to Waukee High School.
Creston/O-M Football Summary
Points by quarter
Crest 7 7 7 7 — 28
Clarke 8 12 0 0 — 20
Scoring summary
1st quarter
Crest— Irr 5 run (Irr kick), 7:04
Clarke— Harmensen 1 run (conversion good, Paul 2 pass from Lampe), 5:00
2nd quarter
Crest — Irr 29 pass from Eblen (Irr kick), 9:00
Clarke — Paul 2 run (conversion no good)
Clarke — 26 pass from Lange (conversion no good), :29
3rd quarter
Crest — Irr 53 run (Irr kick), 2:23
4th quarter
Crest — Irr 7 run (Irr kick), :30
TEAM STATISTICS
CHS Clarke
First downs 15 12
Rushes-yards 26-118 49-158
Passing yards 150 67
Total yards 268 225
Punts-avg. 4-23.5 —
Fumbles-lost 3-0 0-0
Penalties-yards 6-46 4-45
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Crest: Irr 10-83, J. Bevins 6-35, Eblen 10-0;
PASSING — Crest: Eblen 12-30-3 150;
RECEIVING — Crest: Irr 5-51, J. Bevins 1-7, C. Bevins 5-84, Alan Smith 1-8.
TACKLE LEADERS (solo-assists) — Crest: Nick Neitzel 6-7, Irr 6-4, Luke Neitzel 4-5, J. Bevins 4-5, Derek Pellman 2-6
INTERCEPTIONS — Crest: Irr, J. Bevins
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