(Anita, IA) — Audubon Head Coach Sean Birks does not remember the last time that Audubon has gone into Anita and won a football game over CAM. But he will remember the performance of Carson Wessel and the Wheelers has they scored four straight touchdowns to down the Cougars 38-20 on Friday night.
It was a back and forth first quarter as CAM got some big plays to take the lead. On Audubon’s first possession, CAM’s Collin Bower broke through and blocked a punt, picked it up and ran 20 yards for a touchdown, the extra point was no good and the Cougars led 6-0. The Wheelers answered quickly as Aaron Olsen scored on a 10 yard TD and add in a 2 point conversion catch from Brody Weber to make it 8-6. After the Cougars got an interception from Carsen McKee, Kayden Winther broke it to the outside for a 63 yard score and CAM had a 12-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
That’s when Wessel started to take over. After Aaron Christensen made an acrobatic one handed interception, Wessel connected with Weber on a 13 yard TD and then he got the 2 point conversion to make it 16-12 Audubon. After a CAM punt, Wessel found Christensen for a 49 yard TD — the pass was underthrown and Christensen reached back to make the catch and then ran the rest of the way. The Wheelers led 24-12 going into the locker room.
On the opening drive of the third quarter, Karter Obermeier capped a long drive with a 1 yard TD and after a CAM punt, Wessel would convert a key 3rd down and 17 deep in his own territory, finding Olsen for a 28 yard pass play. Wessel would end the drive with a 2 yard plunge and Audubon had cruised to a 38-12 lead. The Cougars added a 5 yard touchdown from Makade Paulsen but it was too little too late for the Cougars.
Head Coach Sean Birks was glad to come away from a tough place to play with a W
Wessel finished unofficially with 27 carries for 184 yards and 2 TD plus was 6-9 passing for 151 yards with 2 TD and 1 INT. It was his first ever start at QB at varsity and he says there were a few butterflies before the opening kickoff
Audubon unofficially had 384 yards of total offense, 233 rush and 151 pass. Olsen had 13 carries for 51 yards and a TD; Weber had 4 catches for 73 yards and a TD.
For CAM, official stats, Kayden Winther 6 carries, 87 yards and 1 TD; Brayden Chester 15 carries, 67 yards; Makade Paulsen 16 carries 52 yards and 1 TD and was 4-15 passing for 16 yards and 3 INT. Collin Bower had 9.5 tackles, 5 TFL and a fumble recovery for a TD.
CAM falls to 0-1, they will travel to Griswold next week. Audubon goes to 1-0, they host Colo Nesco. Both games will be district openers.
Complete interview with Audubon Head Coach Sean Birks
Complete interview with Audubon QB Carson Wessel