North Tama quarterback Kolt Knaack walks off the field during the first half of last Friday’s District 3 road game with AGWSR in Ackley. Knaack – who usually sports No. 4 – wore former teammate Keegan Brooks’ No. 11 jersey that evening in tribute after Brooks was severely injured in a car accident on Tuesday, Sept. 10, near the town of Raymond. As of press time, Brooks, a junior who recently began attending Union High School, remained hospitalized. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

ACKLEY – Sometimes a high school football game is more than just a high school football game, and that was certainly the case last Friday, Sept. 13, in Ackley when the AGWSR Cougars hosted the North Tama Redhawks as part of a District 3 matchup.

While the Redhawks got their first win of the season that evening – decisively striking down the Cougars 38-9 – even before kickoff the game had taken on weighted significance following a car accident that took place just three days prior late in the evening on Tuesday, Sept. 10, east of Raymond. As a result of the fatal accident which involved five Union High School students, junior Keegan Brooks, 16, was severely injured.

The accident was particularly devastating for many in the Traer area as Brooks had not only been a North Tama student but a member of the varsity football team before transferring to Union the very morning of the accident. The week before against Nashua-Plainfield, he had been out on Dennis Field playing for the Redhawks.

In tribute to his former and forever teammate, Redhawk quarterback Kolt Knaack elected to wear Brooks’ No. 11 jersey while the entire North Tama team also sported No. 11 decals on the backs of their helmets – all in solidarity with Brooks who remained hospitalized as of this past Monday.

“It just felt wrong not to wear it,” Knaack, a senior, told the newspaper of his decision. “[Keegan] and I have been really close since he’s been in high school, so I just felt like it was the right thing to do. I don’t know if it had an impact on the game but there was definitely a different feeling leading up to and competing in the game compared to any other game.”

‘Win It For Keegs.’ Members of the North Tama Redhawks football team sported No. 11 decals on their helmets during the Friday, Sept. 13, game in tribute to their former teammate, junior Keegan Brooks who was severely injured in a car accident on Tuesday. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“To me, he is a North Tama kid,” head coach Andrew Knaack told the newspaper of his former player. “I did bring up Keegan in the pregame speech before we headed to the field. I am sure all the boys were thinking about him. He was close to a lot of the guys and always a positive kid. We put the decals on our helmet to honor him.”

While it is impossible to gauge whether playing with Brooks in their hearts and on their minds had a measurable effect on the game’s outcome, the Redhawks were certainly on fire that evening with Knaack notching his best game yet this season by going 18-for-21 for a blazing 236 yards and two touchdowns. He was also the team’s rushing leader with 14 carries across 88 yards.

On their very first drive of the game, North Tama scored its first touchdown following a handoff from Knaack to senior running back Gavin Rausch who crossed into the endzone barely two minutes into the first quarter.

Rausch seemed to be on a mission Friday night, carrying the ball 11 times for 87 yards and scoring three rushing touchdowns including a 30-yard romp. He was also the team’s defensive leader with 8.5 tackles including a sack and one tackle-for-loss.

“Gavin ran the ball hard [all night],” Coach Knaack said.

North Tama senior wide receiver Josh Dostal (5) jumps into the air in celebration after scoring his first of two touchdowns Friday evening against the AGWSR Cougars in Ackley. Joining Dostal in celebration is senior running back Tyrus Luker (12) who also had a great evening against the Cougars, running in a touchdown of his own late in the fourth quarter. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Equally as impressive, senior wide receiver Josh Dostal racked up the most receiving yards for North Tama with 94 including two catches for paydirt; his longest touchdown reception topped 40 yards.

Dostal’s first touchdown of the evening arrived with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter after he intercepted the Cougars not long after Rausch had run in his second touchdown putting the score at 12-0.

On the Redhawks’ first play of the possession following the interception, Knaack threw long to the back right corner near the endzone and Dostal took care of the rest. North Tama ended the first quarter squarely in control at 18-0.

AGWSR managed their only touchdown about halfway through the second quarter.

Rausch ran in his third touchdown of the night with just seconds remaining in the first half to put the score at 24-7 at halftime.

North Tama quarterback Kolt Knaack passes the ball early in last Friday’s District 3 road game against AGWSR. Knaack deftly led his team to their first win of the season against the Cougars, going 18-for-21 for a blazing 236 yards and two touchdowns. He was also the team's rushing leader with 14 carries across 88 yards. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

In the second half, Dostal notched his second passing touchdown, while senior running back Tyrus Luker ran in a four-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to seal the game.

The only points AGWSR managed to put up in the second half came about by way of a safety when North Tama was deep in their own territory and Dostal (wisely, per Coach Knaack) stepped out of the endzone.

“We played a complete football game,” Coach Knaack said. “We ran and threw the ball well all night. We scored on our first drive which helped us to get momentum that we have not had in our previous two games. … Credit to the offensive line. As always, the defense stood strong and got a few turnovers. When you don’t have to punt all game there is a lot to be happy about.”

Looking at the season ahead, he added, “We are a good team and if we are clicking like we did Friday night we will be tough going forward.”

In terms of playing that evening to ‘Win It For Keegs,’ Coach Knaack said, “I think [the win] meant a little more than maybe just another win.”

Redhawk quarterback Kolt Knaack makes the decision to run with the ball late in the first quarter last Friday against AGWSR. His decision to carry the ball converted a fourth down into a first for North Tama and eventually led to the team’s second touchdown. “That play was supposed to be a pass,” Knaack explained to the newspaper. “I didn’t see anything open and I saw the opening to the left to run and get the first down. A lot of times in previous years we’d be in those situations and I’d just throw it up to a receiver, but I feel like I’ve started to realize that a lot of time there is a running lane open.” A flag was originally thrown on the play for illegal man downfield. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

This week the Redhawks are on the road again, taking on another District 3 opponent, the BCLUW Comets who remain winless this season at 0-3.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at BCLUW High School in Conrad.

Redhawk running back Tyrus Luker (12) tries to outrun the AGWSR defense early in last Friday’s District 3 matchup in Ackley. Luker recorded a great night on the gridiron against the Cougars, running in the final touchdown late in the fourth quarter to seal North Tama’s first win of the season which was played in tribute to their former teammate Keegan Brooks who was severely injured on Tuesday, Sept. 10, in a car accident. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Members of the Redhawk offensive line including, from left, junior wide receiver Kayler Morris (2), junior wide receiver Clayton Williams (8), senior quarterback Kolt Knaack (11), senior running back Tyrus Luker (12; partially hidden), and senior running back Gavin Rausch (7) pictured in formation ahead of the snap early in their District 3 road game with AGWSR last Friday. The Redhawks beat the Cougars 38-9 for their first win of the season. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Redhawk running back Gavin Rausch (7) shakes off a member of the AGWSR defense on his way to his second touchdown last Friday night in Ackley. Rausch notched a stellar night against the Cougars, carrying the ball 11 times for 87 yards and scoring three rushing touchdowns including a 30-yard romp. He was also the team’s defensive leader with 8.5 tackles including a sack and one tackle-for-loss. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

North Tama running back Gavin Rausch (center) is congratulated by his teammates including Bryar Hall (21) and Tyrus Luker (12) after running in his first of three rushing touchdowns against the AGWSR Cougars last Friday in Ackley. Rausch notched a stellar night against the Cougars, carrying the ball 11 times for 87 yards while also leading the team’s defense with 8.5 tackles including a sack and one tackle-for-loss. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER