(Marengo, IA) — For the first time since 2021, Audubon has advanced to the Dome by upsetting #2 Iowa Valley on the road 26-19 on Thursday night.
It was Audubon’s defense and special teams that made some huge plays to keep the Wheelers season going.
The Tigers scored on the first play from scrimmage when QB Nolan Kriegel surprised everybody with a play action pass and hit a wide open Layne Peska for a 65 yard TD. The extra point kick was no good and it was 6-0 Iowa Valley.
Audubon moved the ball down the field on their first possession — slowly and methodically. Facing a 4th and 24, the Wheelers rolled the dice and went for it. Aiden Kjergaard found Austin Christensen for a 31 yard TD and the two point conversion by Kjergaard made it 8-6 Wheelers.
After a Tiger punt, Kjergaard broke a 30 yard TD run but the 2 point conversion failed to make it 14-6 Audubon.
Early in the 2nd quarter, Iowa Valley was able to convert a 4th and 9 on a fumble but later failed on 4th and 4 — Audubon took over on their own 14 yard line and Kjergaard broke a 61 yard TD run and the Wheelers led 20-6 at the half.
Audubon had the ball to start the 3rd quarter and got another big play — Kjergaard did play action and Austin Christensen was wide open and the sophomore QB hit the senior TE for a 64 yard TD pass — the 2 point conversion failed to make it 26-6 Wheelers.
Iowa Valley came back to make it a game — Kriegel ended the Tigers first drive of the 2nd half with a 20 yard TD run. After a rare Audubon 3 and out, Kriegel broke another run this time from 35 yards to cut the lead to 26-19.
Audubon had to punt late in the 3rd and Iowa Valley faced a 4th down and 1 near midfield but Christensen stuffed Kriegel for no gain. Audubon started at the IV 37 eventually turned it over on downs. The Tigers got the ball back and faced a 4th down and 1 and once again Audubon stuffed Kriegel for no gain.
The Wheelers took over at midfield but failed to make a first down. Hayden Larsen dropped back to punt but the ball went over his head. Larsen chased it down and instead of falling on it at the 20, he somehow scooped it up, stumbled but stayed on his feet and made a punt on the run. The ball got an Audubon bounce and moved Iowa Valley back to their own 19 yard line. It might have saved the game.
The Tigers had just over 2 minutes to move the ball — at one point Kriegel broke a 20 yard run and Carson Wessel who was in on defense for an injured Jorgen Nowatzke got the Tiger QB by his feet and dropped him for a solo tackle that might have saved a TD. On 4th down from the 15, Iowa Valley’s last play fell short and Audubon got the win and earned a trip to the Dome.
Audubon Stats
Aiden Kjergaard 25 carries, 162 yards, 2 TD; 4-9 passing for 115 yards, 2 TD; 12 tackles
Austin Christensen 3 catches, 99 yards, 2 TD; 16 tackles
Brody Weber 11 tackles
Hayden Larsen 11 tackles
Iowa Valley Stats
Nolan Kriegel 44 carries, 228 yards, 2 TD; 3-9 passing, 77 yards, 1 TD
Audubon (11-0) 14-6-6-0 — 26
Iowa Valley (10-1) 6-0-13-0 — 19
