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Dons deny AGWSR upset

ACKLEY – When a team lines up against Don Bosco, it knows what its going up against. Even if the two teams have never faced off in the past.

That’s exactly what the AGWSR football team was tasked with Friday, hosting the Dons in a top-5 matchup of 8-Man teams. Top-ranked Don Bosco rushed for 318 yards as a team, averaging nearly nine yards a rush, as the Dons sped past the Cougars 54-12 in a non-district contest.

After a defeat like the one AGWSR was handed, head coach James Koop said all the Cougars can do is watch the film of the game to see what needs to be corrected, or if it was something Don Bosco was just better at.

“The good thing about playing Don Bosco is you know they’re a quality opponent,” Koop said. “You know what they bring to the table, and they’ll show you what you need to work on. Now I don’t know if we’re quite this much worse than them on the scoreboard, because there are somethings we missed because Don Bosco was faster than us tonight.”

Don Bosco (4-0) started the night off scoring on its first four possessions of the game. Austin Svoboda scored the first of his three touchdowns on the ground just three minutes into the game on an 11-yard run.

“I mean if you’re going to get humble pie, it’s always better to get it in a non-district game,” Koop said. “We got a big dish of it today, but the kids will keep working hard.”

AGWSR (3-1) would respond right away. Facing a fourth down near midfield, quarterback and punter Nathan Karsjens dropped back in punt formation, but the Cougars ran a fake, and Karsjens connected with Mason Eilderts streaking down the middle of the field for 30 yards. That set up a 16-yard touchdown pass from Karsjens to Liam Stubbe on the very next play.

While the Dons scored on their next three drives, AGWSR went three-and-out and turned the ball over on downs on its next two possessions. AGWSR was forced to punt on its following drive, but Wyatt Sawvel muffed the punt. Sawvel fumbled, AGWSR recovered and the Cougars were in business in the red zone. The result was Karsjens and Stubbe connecting again through the air, this time from 13 yards out about a minute before halftime to cut the Don Bosco lead to 26-12.

The second half belonged to Don Bosco. The Dons ran for three touchdowns in the half, and added a defensive touchdown, as Cael Tenold returned a Karsjens interception 39 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.

“The first half was OK,” Koop said. “The second half, the boys never quit, but it got away from us a little bit.

“Momentum never really got back on our side after halftime.”

Karsjens finished 6-of-14 for 92 yards, the two touchdowns and the pick. Eilderts led the Cougars with 50 yards receiving on two catches. Stubbe added 45 yards on five grabs and the two scores.

Don Bosco quarterback Brandon Bagby led the Dons with 131 yards rushing and a score. He finished 10-of-16 passing for 121 yards and a touchdown. Svoboda supplied 88 yards on the ground to supplement his three scores. Don Bosco has scored at least 50 points in 15 of its last 16 games dating back to the beginning of the 2015 season, averaging 65.1 points a game in the 15 games.

Things don’t get easier for the Cougars, as they travel to No. 6 Turkey Valley (Jackson Junction) next Friday to jump back into 8-Man District 2 play. Turkey Valley is 4-0 after defeating Riceville 52-14 last night.

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