(Audubon, IA) — There are no shortage of good 8 Man football teams in the western side of the state. Bedford, Lenox, Bishop Garrigan, Remsen St. Mary’s are the top 4 teams coming into Week Three and six teams of the top 10 are west of I-35. On Friday night, Audubon showed why they are deserving to be called one of the best teams in 8 Man in the state.
The Wheelers scored on their second play from scrimmage and never looked back from there in a 72-0 win over Exira EHK on their Homecoming night. Aaron Olsen broke the second play on a 45 yard TD run down the sidelines and the 2 point conversion made it 8-0. The Spartans went 3 and out so Audubon got another big play from Olsen — he caught a screen pass off his shoestrings and went 49 yards for another score to make it 16-0. Wheelers QB Carson Wessel got another score before the end of the first quarter with a 25 yard screen pass across the middle to Olsen for another score, it as 24-0.
After Olsen picked off a Bryce Bradham pass early in the 2nd quarter, Wessel went for the big hitter and found Austin Christensen wide open for a 39 yard TD pass. On the next possession, Audubon would block a punt and Jack Stanerson returned it 40 yards for a TD to make it a running clock game at 6:25 mark of the 2nd quarter 36-0.
Audubon continued to get big play after big play as the Spartans just could not stop them, especially on plays off tackle. Back-up QB Aiden Kjeergaaard hit Jorgen Nowatzke on a 12 yard TD, Kjergaard would bust open a 47 yard TD run. Early in the 4th quarter, Collin Hartl had a 4 yard TD run, Kjergaard added a 28 yard touchdown run and Mason Kasperbauer capped the scoring with a 27 yard run to pay dirt.
Unofficially, Audubon had 206 yards rushing, 145 yards passing for 351 yards of total offense. Wessel was 4-6 passing for 133 yards and 3 TD. Aaron Olsen had 2 receptions for 74 yards and 2 TD plus 5 rushes for 47 yards and another score. Exira EHK could not get things going offensively and unofficially finished with 56 yards of total offense, 34 rushing and 21 passing. Spartans Senior LB/RB Alex Hanson stood out with tremendous effort and must have finished in double figures in tackles making some incredible hits.
Audubon goes to 3-0 and starts district play next week at Ft. Dodge St. Edmond. Exira EHK falls to 1-2, they host the Sidney Cowboys in district play next Friday.
Audubon Head Coach Sean Birks Post Game