The North Tama Redhawks storm Dennis Field in Traer last Friday evening ahead of their season opener against the visiting Hudson Pirates. Pictured leading the team from left to right, junior wide receiver Clayton Williams (8), senior quarterback Kolt Knaack (4), senior wide receiver Josh Dostal (5), senior running back Gavin Rausch (7), senior wide receiver Bryar Hall (21), senior offensive lineman Mason Hosek (64), senior offensive lineman Chaz Hall (52), and senior running back Tyrus Luker (12). The Pirates won the annual Battle of 63 in a shutout, 18-0. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Friday Night Lights returned locally last Friday, Aug. 30, as both North Tama and Union hosted their season openers with the Redhawks facing the Hudson Pirates at Dennis Field and the Knights welcoming the Aplington-Parkersburg Falcons to Union Stadium.

‘Battle of 63’

TRAER – In the Battle of 63 on Friday night, North Tama was shut out 18-0 in its season opener against Class 1A, non-district rival Hudson. Historically, the Redhawks maintain a 15-29 record with their Hwy 63 foe.

Much has been written and discussed the last couple of years in regard to North Tama’s size differential when compared to fellow Class A teams let alone higher classes. On paper Friday night, Hudson rostered 10 more players than North Tama including nine who tip the scales at 200 pounds or more; the Redhawks have just two players in the 200-pound range.

When asked for comment following the game, Redhawks head coach Andrew Knaack admitted the battle for size will be a recurring theme this season for his team.

Redhawk wide receiver Clayton Williams (8) searches for an opening through the Hudson defense last Friday on Dennis Field in Traer. Williams had one carry against the Pirates, advancing the Redhawks two yards. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“We are not a big team, with our size. We are going to battle that all season long but I do think we have speed and athleticism to win in a lot of situations.”

North Tama used that athleticism to its advantage in the first quarter, keeping the Pirates scoreless. One of the highlights of the first 12 minutes of the 2024 season was Redhawk junior defensive back Clayton Williams’ interception halfway through the quarter which he returned for 18 yards.

Also during the first half, senior wide receiver Josh Dostal just missed holding onto a touchdown pass from quarterback Kolt Knaack which would have put the Redhawks on the scoreboard before the Pirates.

Other North Tama highlights included senior wide receiver Tyrus Luker’s 35-yard kick return just ahead of halftime and a second half interception by junior defensive back Kayler Morris which gave the Redhawks a first down.

Try as North Tama did to stop their opponent, Hudson methodically and swiftly moved down the field ahead of all three touchdowns which included two in the second quarter and the final in the third.

North Tama running back, senior Gavin Rausch (7) carries the ball early in the game against the Hudson Pirates last Friday, Aug. 30, in Traer. Rausch led the Redhawks defense against the Pirates, notching nine tackles including five solo and 1.5 for loss. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

While Hudson passed for a total of 134 yards, they kept Kolt Kaack to just 75. The Pirates also rushed for 215 yards while the Redhawks managed just three yards.

Knaack carried the ball himself five times for a total loss of 11 yards. He made contact nine times with his receivers including four with Dostal for 40 yards, three times with Luker for 31 yards, and twice with senior Gavin Rausch for four yards.

Rausch overwhelming led the Redhawk defense with nine tackles including five solo and 1.5 for loss while Kolt Knaack had seven tackles (four solo) and Dostal had 6.5 tackles (three solo and 0.5 for loss).

North Tama was missing at least one player Friday night including sophomore Brayton Cibula who was out with a knee injury. Cibula is one of the team’s more robust players at 6-foot-three and 180 pounds.

Coach Knaack said he is not sure the offensive lineman/linebacker will return at all this season, telling the newspaper, “I know he wants to be out there and if he could play he would be.”

Redhawks Josh Dostal (5) and Gavin Rausch (7) tackle Pirate running back Slade Schneider during the first quarter last Friday in Traer. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

As part of his comments, Knaack also said he was proud of much of his team’s season opening salvo Friday night.

“I think we competed well during different stretches of the game,” he said. “They had some size and speed that gave us difficulty [but] we were in the game – we had a touchdown pass that fell to the ground and a couple of close penalties that extended their drives.”

North Tama will again host this week, taking on the visiting Nashua-Plainfield Huskies on Friday, Sept. 6 beginning at 7 p.m. The Huskies won their season opener against Postville, 33-14.

North Tama updates Dennis Field policy

Ahead of Friday night’s game, North Tama’s administration announced several updates affecting football games at Dennis Field this season including a change to the adjacent playground.

North Tama sophomore Brayton Cibula – currently on the injured reserve list – congratulates his teammate, junior wide receiver Clayton Williams, center, early in the North Tama-Hudson game last Friday following an interception by Williams which he returned for 18 yards. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“[T]he playground will be closed during football games,” the district wrote on Facebook. “The gate to the playground will be locked and a fence now separates the football field from the playground.”

In addition, all golf carts, rangers, or other side by side ATVs will no longer be allowed to enter the football field.

The district also set new expectations for students at school events and activities in order to ensure a “safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for all of those in attendance.”

New this year, all PK-6 students must both enter and remain with an adult throughout the entirety of an event. Specific to football, students are no longer allowed in Dennis Field’s south endzone. Any unsupervised PK-6 students will be walked back to their supervising adult.

While Dennis Field’s south bleachers continue to be reserved for secondary students, such students must remain in the bleachers throughout the entirety of the game unless they are visiting the restroom or concessions after which they must return promptly to their seats.

North Tama starting quarterback Kolt Knaack, right, speaks animatedly to his running back Gavin Rausch (7), a fellow senior, during a timeout on Dennis Field last Friday in Traer while junior wide receiver Keegan Brooks (11) looks on. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Union Knights win their season opener 14-0

LA PORTE CITY – The Union Knights also kicked off their season on Friday at home with a shut out 14-0 of visiting Aplington-Parkersburg, thereby ending a two-season losing streak to the Falcons.

Union recorded their first touchdown in the second quarter followed by their final touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Knights starting quarterback senior Andrew Sadler threw for 92 yards total on Friday evening including an 81-yard toss to senior wide receiver Justice Luke for a touchdown.

Luke – both the team’s receiving and rushing leader on Friday night – rushed 18 yards for the Knights’ other touchdown.

Senior Briar Mast led Union’s defense with nine total tackles including five solo.

On Facebook following the win, the Knights new offensive coordinator Matt Miers, who previously was head coach at Central City, praised his players.

“Good way to start!” Miers wrote. “I’m very proud of the guys for fighting hard all game long. The great news is that we are just tapping into our potential. We will continue to improve and our best football is ahead!”

This week, the Knights are scheduled to travel to Mount Vernon (1-0) on Friday to face the powerhouse 3A Mustangs beginning at 7:15 p.m.

Mount Vernon was knocked out of last year’s postseason in the 3A quarterfinals by the reigning 3A champions, the Williamsburg Raiders. In the 2024 preseason rankings, The Gazette newspaper ranked the Mustangs at No. 5.

The Knights were shut out in 2023 at home by Mount Vernon.

North Tama head coach Andrew Knaack speaks to his players during a timeout on the field on Friday, Aug. 30. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

North Tama wide receiver Josh Dostal attempts a catch in the endzone against Hudson’s Anderson Yoder (7) last Friday on Dennis Field in Traer. Dostal led the Redhawk offense against the Pirates, notching four receptions for 40 yards. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Redhawk starting quarterback Kolt Knaack carries the ball late in the third quarter during North Tama’s Aug. 30 season opener at Dennis Field in Traer. Knaack, a senior, threw for 75 yards and one interception against the Hudson Pirates, while carrying the ball five times for a loss of 11 yards total. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Redhawk starting quarterback Kolt Knaack throws the ball late in the third quarter during North Tama’s Aug. 30 season opener at Dennis Field in Traer. Knaack, a senior, threw for 75 yards and one interception against the Hudson Pirates, while carrying the ball five times for a loss of 11 yards total. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Members of the North Tama Band perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” just ahead of kickoff during the Redhawks season opener against the Hudson Pirates last Friday, Aug. 30, at Dennis Field in Traer. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER