Creston hands Glenwood homecoming loss

Fans on hand for Glenwood’s homecoming matchup with Creston Friday night were treated to an impressive display of fireworks – during and after the game.

In a back-and-forth slugfest that featured five touchdown plays of 50 yards or longer, Creston came away with a 42-19 victory, gouging the Ram defense for six touchdowns and 521 total yards.

Creston improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Class 3A, District 8, while Glenwood slipped to 1-4 and 0-3.

“Early on, our guys battled through some adversity – some of it brought on by ourselves, but you have to credit Creston, they have a good team,” Glenwood coach Cory Faust said. “I thought tonight we had a lot of lapses in focus. That’s frustrating.”

Creston wasted little time delivering the first punch in the game as quarterback Alex Nielsen teamed up with running back Chase Shiltz on a wheel route pass pattern out of the backfield that resulted in an 83-yard touchdown.

The Panthers appeared poised to strike again when the Rams fumbled the ball away on their own 41 yard line on the ensuing possession. However, the Panthers tried some trickery in the form of a wide receiver pass back to Nielsen that backfired when Ram defensive back Mavrick Decker intercepted the aerial at the 5 yard line and returned it 90 yards to the Creston 5. The Rams cashed in on the turnover when quarterback Kolten Wilwerding hooked up with Aaron Bertini for a 7-yard touchdown pass.

After stopping the Rams on fourth down inside the Creston 30 yard line, the Panthers reclaimed the lead in the second quarter on a 7-yard run by Schiltz.

Defensive back Andrew Tilley thwarted a Creston scoring threat in the final minute of the half with an interception in the end zone.
Clinging to a 14-7 lead late in-the third quarter, Creston stopped the Rams again on fourth down. One play later, Nielsen and Schiltz teamed up for their second long touchdown pass of the night, this time for 74 yards.

A 6-yard TD run by Nielsen in the final minute of the third quarter increased Creston’s advantage to 28-7.

To the Rams’ credit, they refused to give in as Wilwerding delivered a pass to running back Brogan Weddum, who darted 79 yards for a score on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Three minutes later, however, Shiltz found paydirt again for the Panthers, running in from 7 yards out.

Following a failed onside kick by the Panthers, Wilwerding threw a 50-yard scoring strike to Decker.

Nielsen answered the Glenwood touchdown with a 59-yard scamper that iced the game that lasted more than 2 hours, 45 minutes.
Faust said the Rams are disappointed in Friday night’s outcome, but aren’t ready to give up on their season.

“We just have to stay at it and keep getting better. It’s the only choice we’ve got,” Faust said.  “It’s tough, but I think our guys have responded well for the most part. We’ve practiced well, which is key.”

The Rams finished the game with 97 yards rushing on 36 carries. Wilwerding carried 16 times for 37 yards, while Weddum and Blaine Clark both rushed for 25 yards.

In the air, Wilwerding completed 9-of-22 passes for 201 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Weddum caught two passes for 84 yards and Decker hauled in a pair for 83 yards.

Defensively, Jon Stavas recorded 14 tackles, while Tilley tallied 10 stops to go along with his interception. Carter Von Essen also had 10 tackles. Austin Jarosz chipped in eight.

Nielsen was the offensive catalyst for Creston, rushing for 105 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries and completing 11-of-22 passes for 286 yards and two TDs. Shiltz picked up 86 yards on the ground and 157 yards receiving on just two catches.

Glenwood hopes to get back on the winning track this Friday when the Rams play a non-district game at Denison.

CRS  07  07  21  07-42
GLN  07  00  06  06-19

CRS – Chase Schiltz, 83 pass from Alex Nielsen, (Christian Groumoutis kick)
GLN – Aaron Bertini, 7 pass from Kolten Wilwerding (Connor Weis kick).
CRS – Schiltz, 7 run (Groumoutis kick).
CRS - Chase Schiltz, 74 pass from Nielsen (Groumoutis kick).
CRS – Nielsen, 6 run (Groumoutis kick).
GLN – Brogan Weddum, 79 pass from Wilwerding (kick failed).
CRS – Schiltz, 7 run (Groumoutis kick).
(GLN – Mavrick Decker, 50 pass from Wilwerding (pass failed).
CRS – Nielsen, 59 run (Groumoutis kick).