The Webster City Lynx football team returned to action on Friday night, as they made the trip to southwest Iowa to take on the Creston Panthers in the Class 3A Quarterfinals at Panthers Stadium in Creston. The Lynx entered at 8-2 overall, while Creston entered as the lone undefeated team in Class 3A at 10-0.
The night could not have started better for Webster City, with the Lynx pouncing all over the top-ranked Panthers early. Luke Estlund started the night with a 64-yard touchdown run to put the Lynx up 7-0 after their first drive. Webster City would then capitalize on their 2nd drive with a 37-yard touchdown run from Jaxon Cherry to put the Lynx up 13-0. Briar Klaver would intercept a Cael Turner pass on the ensuing defensive possession, before Jaxon Cherry scored from 23 yards out to put Webster City up 19-0 in the first quarter. Creston would then begin to get the gears turning thanks to a 4th down trick play, that resulted in Cael Turner finding Weston Trapp for a 31-yard touchdown pass to bring the score to 19-6. Following a defensive stop, Turner hit another 31-yard touchdown pass, this one to Brandon Briley to bring the score to 19-13 after the first quarter. Following a Webster City drive that was doomed by a botched snap, the Panthers got a 67-yard touchdown run by Brennan Hayes to take a 20-19 lead, and another score before half made the halftime score 28-19 Creston.
The 2nd half would belong to the Panthers, continue to lean on their explosive offense, putting up 43 unanswered points in total. Webster City did get back on the board with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Keegan Hisler to Briar Klaver to bring the score to 43-27 in the 4th. However, Cael Turner put the final nail in the coffin with a 45-yard touchdown run to give Creston a 50-27 win.
Jaxon Cherry ran for 192 yards and 2 touchdowns on 28 carries, along with 6.5 tackles and 2 tackles for loss in his final game in a Lynx uniform, and bows out as Webster City’s all-time leading rusher with 4,696 career rushing yards. Keegan Hisler ran for 102 yards and completed 3-of-7 passes for 54 yards and a touchdown in his final game as well. Creston quarterback Cael Turner would go 19-for-32 with 298 yards, 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, along with 60 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Creston advances to face Bishop Heelan in the Class 3A Semifinals at the UNI Dome on Saturday, Webster City’s season concludes at 8-3.