Makayla Cross and Alex Roderick were named North Nodaway Homecoming Royalty Friday before the DeKalb game. Parker Ogle and Jana Dow were named West Nodaway Homecoming Royalty following the game.
This was the first year that both teams celebrated Homecoming together. During the morning, the North Nodaway students relaxed, played games, and had a fun day. The Homecoming Parade was canceled due to the rainy weather. But the pep rally went on as scheduled, moved to the old gym.
The 275 Champion Softball Team was celebrated. Coach Kit Meiners was told that there was a special teacher conference, not including her, going on during the first hour. She was finally told to come downstairs into the lockerroom, where she was greeted with a surprise celebration for the team. Then, the entire student body lined the hall chanting, “Conference champs,” as they threw a ticker-tape parade.
At 1:45 pm, the West Nodaway students arrived. The Musket cheerleaders led the crowd in cheers, the pep band played, and the place was loud and deafening, just like the old days when basketball was being played. The softball girls and the rest of the teams from North Nodaway and West Nodaway were recognized; there were fun games and competitions.
For North Nodaway, the Freshmen won the Spirit Stick. However, some of the seniors claimed the process was rigged, because if the parade had been held as scheduled, they would have won the float competition, which would have put them over the top.
It looked at first like the Muskets were going to run away with Friday’s game. They jumped out to a quick 16-0 lead, then it grew to 28-6 by halftime. DeKalb scored right out of the gate to make it 28-14, but North/West seemingly reestablished control with a tally of their own to make it 34-14. Cade Pankau, their 300 pound lineman from Savannah, who had missed the first give games with an injury, came back for this one and the Muskets were a totally different team with him on the field.
But then DeKalb came roaring back in the second half, tying it at 34-34, only to see Parker Ogle run one back 68 yards to the house to put North/West Nodaway back in front. The Muskets stopped DeKalb and drove to just inside midfield with seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter, only to be forced to punt after a fumbled snap on third and short at the 38. DeKalb went three and out as well after Will Cordell dropped Darrin McElfresh on third down, there was 3:49 left on the clock, and DeKalb was forced to punt.
North/West Nodaway, however, couldn’t do anything with the ball, losing four yards and they were forced to punt with 2:27 left. A block in the back pushed DeKalb back to the 15, but then the tackling broke down as McElfresh broke tackle after tackle to the Musket 37 for a 28 yard gain. DeKalb with nowhere on their next play, leaving 1:44 left on the clock, but then Wyatt Ashpaugh aired it out on a play action to McElfresh all the way down to the 2.
McElfresh got one yard to the 1 with 1:11 remaining, but then Coyote Henderson was driven back four yards to the five with 29 seconds left as Alex Roderick and James Graham drove him back. A fumbled snap left it fourth and goal at the four with 18 seconds left, but DeKalb had one more timeout and used it up. This time, they gave it to Henderson and he plunged straight up the gut with 13 seconds left to tie it at 40.
DeKalb went back to the play action pass that worked to set up the score and Jared McElfresh caught it in the back of the end zone to put DeKalb up 42-40, and North/West Nodaway couldn’t come up with anything in the last 13 seconds.
For North/West Nodaway, Dylan Carden completed two of his three pass attempts for 50 yards. Dylan Carden completed 16 of 31 passes for 143 yards, and Tyler Bix completed one of two passes.
Dylan Carden had 9 carries for 33 yards. Parker Ogle had 7 carries for 32 yards, Karson Oberhauser 8 carries for 19 yards, Cody Cline 5 carries for 9 yards, and Dalton Smyser one carry for 3 yards.
Tyler Bix had 8 catches for 101 yards. Dylan Carden had 1 catch for 36 yards, Parker Ogle had 1 catch for 31 yards, Will Cordell 4 catches for 21 yards, Cody Cline 1 catch for 3 yards, and Wyatt O’Riley 1 catch for 2 yards.
Parker Ogle had 19 tackles for the Muskets. Dylan Carden had 14, as did Alex Roderick. Will Cordell had 10, Wyatt O’Riley 9, Mason Chitwood 6, Dalton Smyser 4, Karson Oberhauser 3, and Jordan Jenkins 2.
Will Cordell and Mason Chitwood had 2.5 tackles for loss each. Parker Ogle had 2, Dylan Carden and Alex Roderick had 1.5 each, and Wyatt O’Riley had 1.
Dylan Carden had one interception for the Muskets. He also had a fumble recovery. Will Cordell forced a fumble.
Coach Anthony Christian said that his team had fought hard for all four quarters. “I talked to some other coaches, and they said DeKalb was the most physical team they had seen all year,” he said. “You came out and fought hard all four quarters. Keep playing hard, and the wins will come.” The Muskets will try again for their first win this Friday at Northwest/Hughesville.
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