Past season image of a Redhawks helmet resting on the field. TAMA-GRUNDY FILE PHOTO

After resoundingly beating the Plainsmen in their season opener at home Aug. 26, the sixth-ranked North Tama Redhawks were shut out by non-conference AGWSR, 28-0, on the road this past Friday.

The Cougar defense ultimately proved too much for North Tama, keeping the Redhawks offense to 133 receiving yards and 35 rushing yards. Although starting quarterback Kolt Knaack managed to connect 18 different times with four receivers (Josh Dostal, Gavin Rausch, Logan Siemens, and Michael Schrier) it just wasn’t enough to move the ball into the Cougar endzone.

Defensively, the Redhawks put up a good fight with 46 total tackles – led by Siemens with 7.5 (six solo) – keeping the Cougars to just 30 receiving yards. But AGSWR’s rushing game was on fire with 222 yards – much of that ran up by running back Kaden Abbas who carried the ball a whopping 26 times and all four of the Cougars’ touchdowns.

“AGWSR played a great game,” Redhawks head coach Taylor Wurth told the Telegraph. “Have to give props to them. We did not play our best and that’s on me as a coach. I know our boys will be ready to get back to work [next week].”

The Redhawks, now 1-1 on the season, will be back at home this Friday, Sept. 9 against Hudson for what’s coined the Battle of Highway 63. North Tama took the mantle last year on the road, beating the Pirates, 30-6. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. on city-owned Dennis Field.