Rams punch ticket to state playoffs

Glenwood built a 35-14 lead midway through the third quarter and held off a late Creston comeback attempt in a 49-35 victory in Class 3A, District 9 football Friday at Glenwood Community School District Athletic Complex.

With the win the Rams (7-2) locked up a share of the District 9 title - the school’s third all time - and a sport in the state playoffs. Glenwood will face Norwalk in the first round of the state playoffs Friday in Norwalk.

But before locking up its post-season slot, the Rams had to finish its regular season business against Creston (2-7).

A pair of touchdown passes from Zach Carr to John Palmer and Ryan Blum helped the Rams to an early 14-0 lead. Touchdown runs from Carr and Cole Mayberry put Glenwood ahead 28-14 at the break.

That lead ballooned to 35-14 when the Rams capped a 65 yard drive to open the second half on Carr’s second TD scamper of the game.

The Panthers would not go away, however, scoring 21 points in the final quarter and a half and cutting the lead to 42-35 in the fourth frame.

But Mayberry’s 5-yard touchdown run sealed the Rams’ win with just over seven minutes to go.

Glenwood coach Cory Faust said the win was nice but he didn’t feel like his team played real well on the defensive side of the ball or on special teams. The competitive energy, he said, was missing at times.

“You have to credit Creston,” he said. “And acknowledge we had to move some guys around due to people being banged up. It wasn’t really what we wanted to look like but it feels like the guys did what they had to do and showed some good resilience and composure even thought it was a contested game right to the end.”

Glenwood finished with 437 total yards, 245 of it coming on the ground. Carr completed 10-of-15 passes for 192 yards and three TDs. Blum hauled in two of those scoring darts and Palmer the other. Mayberry added two touchdown runs.
Quarterback Eli Loudon kept the Panthers in until late, completing 15-of-27 passes for 280 yards and two TDs.

The Ram defense limited Creston to just 90 yards rushing on 26 carries (3.4 yards per carry) and forced three turnovers. Silas Bales and Sully Woods led the way with 6.5 tackles each and both recovered a fumble.

Glenwood will open post-season play at Norwalk (8-1) in the opening round Friday. Kick off is set for 7 p.m.

Faust said the Warriors are one of the larger programs in all of Class 3A and it shows in their depth. Leading the Norwalk offense is senior quarterback Zach Marker, a dual threat that has combined to throw and run for over 2,000 yards and 31 TDs this season.

“They have good numbers on their team and a lot of talent,” Faust said. “They’re strong and deep and their quarterback in particular is a really strong runner and thrower. They put a lot of pressure on you on both sides of the ball. They’re a very good opponent but I like our team.

“If we play like I know that we can, we’ve got a real good chance to win the game.”