Muskets trying to bounce back against DeKalb

By DAVID MERRILL Sports reporter
North-West Nodaway’s Dylan Carden reaches for the end zone against Platte Valley during their Sept. 2 matchup. Platte Valley’s Regan Meyer (23), Tanner Davis (2) and Taylar Freemeyer are attempting to make the stop. The Muskets won 36-26.

North-West Nodaway (1-4) will try and get back on the winning track on Friday when it hosts DeKalb (0-5) on Friday at 7 p.m. The Muskets haven’t scored a point in their last two contests, but head coach Terry Clark wants his team to improve on both sides of the ball.

“We are struggling on both sides of the ball with making plays,” he said. “Offensively, and defensively, we have opportunities and we’re a step behind or did not make the play.”

The Muskets only win of the season is against Platte Valley and the Longhorns entered the game winless. That is the case with DeKalb as well, but Clark said that doesn’t mean it is going to be an easy road to victory for his team.

“Their record is very deceiving,” Clark said. “We feel, if we can get rid of our mental mistakes, we can be successful and I’m sure DeKalb feels the same way.”

Offensively, Clark said the Tigers like to run pull schemes and counters as well as stacking the line of scrimmage on defense.

Mental mistakes have also been a problem for Kaleb Wardlow’s Tigers. He describes his team as young and inexperienced and the team is taking awhile to get acclimated to the offense.

“I believe our youth are currently overwhelmed with the offense,” he said. “The hope is for their assignments to become second nature so there is less thinking and more reacting to what is going on in front of them. We have had to simplify some things that we typically do or have done in the past.”

Like most of the Muskets’ opponents, they are going to be working on preparing for the spread. Wardlow wants his team to be able to contain the spread, which includes getting off of their blocks and being able to make plays in open space.

North-West Nodaway is averaging 144 yards and 28.8 points per game and are giving up 26 points per game on average. DeKalb has given up 312 total points this season, which equates to 62.4 points per game.

By DAVID MERRILL Sports Editor
North-West Nodaway’s Daytona Lutz gets to the outside against Platte Valley on Sept. 2. The Muskets went on to win 36-26.