FOOTBALL: Run game took a step forward in SWV loss

CORNING — Nodaway Valley/OM football is running out of football games for the 2025 season. In week 6, NV/OM saw its rushing attack click when it traveled to Southwest Valley.

The final score on the scoreboard was a 42-0 loss, which is not what they wanted. But for the first time this season, NV/OM had a 100-yard rusher. They hope in the final two games they can continue to move the ball effectively on the ground.

NV/OM had 98 rushing yards in the game with a few negative rushes figured in. It was the second time since the Central Decatur win that the Wolverines have posted a positive rushing yard total.

Quarterback Titan Foster proved himself as a worthy threat on his feet, posting 101 yards on 22 keepers in the game, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Senior Titus Hamer went over 100 yards, getting 29 carries for 153 yards against Central Decatur before he was injured and will be out for the remainder of the season.

“We really placed an emphasis on being more effective running the football this week and we were able to find some success,” NV/OM head coach Jack West said. “We had a QB run game with Titan that we really liked, and we did a good job of executing it most of the night. We are looking to continue to build off of that for the rest of the season.”

Southwest Valley got out to a very fast start, scoring on a 47-yard pass connection from quarterback Wyatt Shires to Gavin Wetzel for a 6-0 lead. Foster was taken down in the end zone on the Wolverines’ next possesion for an 8-0 lead a minute and a half into the game.

Southwest Valley grew an 8-0 first-quarter lead into a 22-0 advantage by halftime, then put the game away in the third for a 36-0 lead off of big plays.

Foster was 5-for-15 in the passing game for 58 yards with two interceptions. Senior receiver Keyin Steeve also completed a one-yard pass. He also caught three balls for 42 yards. Foster, junior Caleb Christensen and senior Remington Woosley also made catches in the game.

Christensen was the Wolverines’ tackle leader with eight, including five of them as solos. Junior Bram Dahl made five tackles and junior Erik Jensen 4.5. Steeve made an interception on defense in the game.

Shires completed 8-of-17 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 81 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns — both yard totals were career highs. Senior Cael Hogan also scored a touchdown on the night. Gavin Wetzel led the Timberwolves with seven tackles. Jake Brandt scored on defense, recovering a Wolverine fumble in the endzone.

While the Wolverines saw their playoff hopes dashed with the loss, they now will look to be spoilers when rival Mount Ayr visits Greenfield for the Battle for the Rock, a game that honors former Greenfield coach Bob Daut and former Mount Ayr coach Dave Still.

The Raiders are still playing for their playoff lives in the middle of a battle with Southwest Valley and AHSTW in the Class A, District 7 pecking order. All three teams have two district wins with two weeks left in the regular season. The Raiders have the inside track but have to win Friday to really sew something up.

Mount Ayr’s offense is guided by senior quarterback Jackson Ruggles, who is one of five senior quarterbacks in this district. While Ruggles has been effective through the air, the Raiders have shined the brightest running the ball, with 1,600 yards as a team. Junior Dyson Thompson leads individually with 513 yards on 73 carries and four touchdowns and Ruggles has 11 rushing touchdowns.

Defensively, Mount Ayr is led by four seniors: Rowan Sackett has 36 tackles, two sacks and six tackles for loss; Tate Dugan has 33 tackles and two sacks; Ruggles has 29.5 tackles and two interceptions and lineman Bracken Collier has 27 tackles and two sacks.

“We have to focus on what we can control these last two weeks — showing up to practice every single day with a positive attitutde and continuing to improve,” West said. “We talked as a team a few weeks ago that this team wants to be the one to change the mindset of this program for good. We are focused on making these last two weeks the best two weeks of the season.”

This Friday, the Wolverines will honor their large group of seniors. West said they’ve meant a lot to the program despite the hand they were dealt in their four years with coaching changes, a long losing streak and more.

“This group, in particular, has been through so much together with this football program. It is a testament to their courage and toughness that they stuck it out all the way to the end,” West said. “They have worked hard and we want to send them out on a high note these last two weeks.”

ACFP editor Caleb Nelson contributed to this report.