Muskets Make Goal Line Stand, End 21 Game Losing Streak

North/West Nodaway made a goal line stand Friday and ended a 21 game losing streak, beating LeBlond 58-52. The Muskets had not even scored more than 14 points in a game this year. But they showed improvement against DeKalb the week before, threatening to make a game of it before they lost 42-14.

In Friday’s game, North/West Nodaway passed that mark in the first quarter, jumping out to a 20-0 lead. It was the first time the Muskets had led all year. But then LeBlond was sparked by a punt return for a score in the second quarter and tied it at 20 before North/West Nodaway moved back in front 28-20 at halftime. The third and fourth quarters were back and fourth, with neither team being able to stop each other.

LeBlond went up 52-50 with four minutes to go, only for North/West Nodaway to march down the field and score with 40 seconds to go back up 58-52.

But there was still football to be played, and LeBlond completed two long passes to set up first and goal at the five. It looked like a repeat of the DeKalb game from last year, where the Muskets led the whole game, only for the Tigers to complete a long pass to set up their game-winning score and win 42-40.

But this time, the Muskets drove LeBlond back to the 15 thanks to a false start and a sack, where the Golden Eagles attempted a pass into the end zone on fourth down. Tyler Bix picked it off in the end zone and the Muskets were able to kneel down. It was Bix’s second pick of the night.

Karson Oberhauser scored seven touchdowns for the Muskets, but he was quick to deflect credit to his teammates afterwards. The team attempted to douse coach Anthony Christian with the water bucket afterwards, but he ran away before they could get him. It was his first win as Head Coach of the Muskets.

Tyler Bix and Abigail Ferguson were named North Nodaway Homecoming King and Queen afterwards.

The game was the first home win for the Muskets since 2016, when they beat DeKalb 52-0.
Karson Oberhauser completed 6 of 12 passes for 62 yards. Austin Bird had three catches for 17 yards, while Preston Bateman had 1 catch for 19 yards, Will Cordell had 1 catch for 16 yards, and Tyler Bix 1 catch for 10 yards.

Both Oberhauser and Austin Bird had career nights rushing the football. Oberhauser had 43 carries for 348 yards. Austin Bird had 15 carries for 97 yards. The Muskets had 507 total yards in offense. Cody Goff added a 57 yard kickoff return.

Andrew Blackford led the team in tackles with 9. Cody Goff and Tyler Bix had 8, Austin Bird 6, Will Cordell and Karson Oberhauser 5, James Graham 4, Preston Bateman 3, Jordan Jenkins and Cody Cline 2, and Wyatt O’Riley 1.