Muskets get back on track with win over Tigers
North-West Nodaway’s Dakota Smyser back-pedals as he receives a pass from quarterback Korbin Koch on his way to a 51-yard touchdown play against DeKalb. The Muskets went on to defeat the Tigers 52-0 in one half for a Homecoming victory in Burlington Junction Friday night.
Entering the Week 6 matchup against the DeKalb Tigers with a 1-4 record, the North-West Nodaway Muskets had yet to show their capabilities. But it all came together in a much needed Homecoming win, 52-0, in just one half Friday night.
“It was nice getting back on track,” North-West Nodaway head football coach Terry Clark said. “I know what they’re capable of, we just haven’t been able to put it all together like we did tonight.”
Clark said he’s hoping the team can move forward from the win with motivation to keep it going.
“We’ve just got to keep this going,” he said.
It was a complete game for the Muskets, who had highlights on defense, offense, and even special teams.
On the ground it was Daytona Lutz who led the Muskets with 59 yards and two touchdowns, including a fight up the gut in the second quarter which included breaking three different tackles.
“That’s something we’ve worked on,” Clark said. “In games past our guys seemed to go down against the first guy that touched them, but now they’re fighting harder to stay up and are able to get more out of their runs.”
In the air, it was a combination of Weston Carter and Dakota Smyser for quarterback Korbin Koch. Both Koch/Carter connections against DeKalb found the end zone; the first a 10-yard pass play and the second a 25-yard touchdown. Smyser had three receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns including a 51-yard touchdown play in the second quarter.
The Musket defense gave up just a handful of first downs, and even fewer drives across midfield. Leading tackler Levi Hoyt ended the night with 21 tackles, a forced fumble, and three sacks. Lutz had two tackles, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. Other tacklers were Triston Fox with seven, and Jordan Snyder, Dylan Carden, and Brody Beason with five tackles each.
The Muskets executed two special teams plays that were key to the victory, including a kickoff return fumble recovery by Brody Beason, allowing the Muskets a short field advantage and an eventual score.
The second was a high snap over the Dekalb punter’s head and into the end zone, where it was pounced on by Lutz, expanding the Muskets’ lead to 52-0.
“It was just a well-rounded game for us tonight,” Clark said.
In Week 7 the Muskets travel to St. Joseph to take on the 3-2 St. Joseph Christian Lions who will be coming off a Week 6 win over Worth County.
North-West Nodaway defender Levi Hoyt tracks down a DeKalb ball carrier for one of his 21 tackles against the DeKalb Tigers Friday night.
Weston Carter of North-West Nodaway shakes off a DeKalb defender for a 25-yard touchdown play, after receiving a screen pass in Friday night’s 52-0 Musket victory.
North-West Nodaway running back Daytona Lutz breaks through DeKalb’s defense on his way to a 25-yard touchdown run up the middle.
Former Chiefs player and NFL all-star Neil Smith was present at the North-West Nodaway Homecoming game to sign autographs, talk to the team, and conduct the starting coin toss Friday night. All proceeds from his autograph session went toward updates to the school’s crow’s nest.
