Cyclones host Panthers for homecoming game
For the first time since week two, the HCHS Cyclone football team returns home to host the Creston Panthers for homecoming.
“It’s always a neat time,” said Cyclone Head Coach Todd Bladt. “The community is always engaged in it. It all comes down to whether or not you can get the job done on Friday night. As an old coach said, ‘homecoming is not a lot of fun unless good things happen on Friday night’, so that’s our job.”
The Panthers come in with an 0-4 record after suffering losses to Winterset, Lewis Central, Ballard, and most recently Carroll. Offensively, Sophomore Tanner Ray has 465 passing yards, Senior Weston Trapp has 468 rushing yards, and Senior Casen Dryden has 175 receiving yards. Defensively, Senior Lucas Travis has 32 tackles.
“We knew when the schedule came out two years ago that it was going to be really tough competition with the first four games,” said Panther Head Coach Brian Morrison. “With the inexperience on a Friday night that we have right now, we have some growing pains, but our kids have worked hard in practice and we’ve seen some improvement, but we have to get better in a hurry.”
Last season, the Panthers finished 11-1 making it all the way to the 3A – Semifinals at the UNI-Dome, losing 16-13 to Bishop Heelan.
The Cyclones come into this match with a 2-2 record. After dropping the season opener to Lewis Central, the Cyclones won games against Denison, 49-7 and Glenwood, 38-22, and most recently dropped a road match 42-0 to Sergeant Bluff-Luton. Offensively, Junior Gabe Arkfeld has 461 passing yards, Senior Lukas Francis has 313 rushing yards, and Senior Jozef Reisz has 280 receiving yards. Defensively, Senior Bryce Van Baale has 33.5 tackles.
“It’s your typical Harlan team as far as what they do,” Morrison said. “They want to be physical up front, on both sides of the football. I think their quarterback makes great decisions. I think coach [Bladt] has put him in the right spots. I think their physicality with #34 [Ayden Redmon] and #7 [Lukas Francis] running the football are good ones, and I think defensively they do some good things.”
Last season, the Cyclones battled the Panthers twice, once during the regular season where they lost 25-22 Sept. 22 on the road, and later getting eliminated in the 3A – First Round Game 35-27 Oct. 27 on the road. Despite the start Creston has gotten off to, Bladt knows not to take Creston lightly and credited Morrison for the way he coaches.
“They were a really good football team last year,” Bladt said. “Every year has its difficulties. I think he [Morrison] is a great coach. He knows what he’s doing and he’ll have his guys ready to play, no doubt.”