LEON – North Mahaska walked onto Flockhart Field in Leon hoping to end a three-game losing streak to Central Decatur. Ruining the Cardinals’ homecoming would be a bonus. It took less than three minutes for the dream to come true. In the end, North Mahaska topped Central Decatur 69-16.
“Our defense dominated the game,” said NM coach Trey Bennett. “They gave us short fields and Central Decatur could not handle our speed.”
North Mahaska scored on offense, defense and kick return and seemingly did so at will. In the first half Central Decatur crossed the midfield stripe once then immediately went backwards on penalties.
Charlie Goemaat aided the first North Mahaska score rushing unofficially for 35 yards on the drive scoring with 9 minutes 17 seconds to play. Thirteen seconds later Lucas Nunnikhoven hooked up with Asher DeBoef after a turnover and NM was up 14-0.
Defense forced another turnover when Alex Meland blocked a Cardinal punt at the CD 9-yard line. Nunnikhoven hit Ryan Groom for a score.
A partial block led to another NM score when Nunnikhoven hit Chance Angle from the 23-yard line for a 28-0 lead after one period.
NM took over late in the first period and went on a 10-play 56-yard drive culminating in Nunnikhoven scoring from the 2-yard line.
By halftime North Mahaska had accumulated an unofficial 158 yards in offense and led 41-0.
Central Decatur received the ball to begin the second half. On the second plat Gage Reis picked off a pass from the Cardinals’ Asher Norman and rambled 30 yards for a score. The Warhawk defense kept the Cardinals from very many positive plays and provided pressure on the punts allowing for good field position for the Warhawks.
Following a 20-yard touchdown scamper by Goemaat, on the next CD possession Groom picked off Norman and rolled in for 22 yards and a 62-0 lead.
A long run late in the third period put Central Decatur on the board 62-8. With 1:02 to play in the game Norman scored, and the game went to 62-16.
On the kickoff Nunnikhoven found room up the Central Decatur sideline and the track meet was on, but no Cardinal could catch the NM speedster. Nunnikhoven kicked the extra point ,and NM finished it off 69-16.
Friday marked the fourth time the two teams had met. They faced each other in 2018, 2019 and 2023 with the Cardinals dominating all the contests including last year’s 35-16 victory.
“This was a team win,” said Bennett. “We will have to keep things going.”
North Mahaska (2-1) will host Martensdale-St. Marys next week.
