Chargers Go to 5-0 With Win Over Nodaway Valley, 52-6

If there ever was a high school football game featuring two teams with dramatically different styles of play, it was Friday night's clash between Nodaway Valley and ACGC. The Wolverines feature one of the top passing attacks in class 1A, while the Chargers have one of the best rushing attacks.

Nathan Russell, the Wolverine quarterback, was second in completions in the state heading into Friday's game. The senior had completed 73 passes out of 134 attempts for 736 yards. His top receiver, Caelen Devault was second in the state in receptions with 29 for 312 yards. The Wolverine rushing game, on the other hand, had netted only 25 yards through its first four contests!

By contrast, the ACGC offense had passed for only 131 yards heading into the Nodaway Valley homecoming game, but had rushed for 1577 yards through its first four games. The Chargers' wishbone attack features four backs who are all capable of busting loose for large gains.

By halftime there was little doubt as to which team's offense was going to take the day, as the Chargers had taken control with a 35-0 lead, and went on to claim a 52-6 victory. On the second play of the game, ACGC's Austin Kunkle intercepted a Russell pass at the ACGC 48 yard line and the Charger offense went to work.

A six play drive that featured five rushing plays and a 16 yard pass play ended with a one yard plunge by Gavin Cornelison to give the Chargers their first score. Charlie Crawford tacked on the PAT to give the Chargers a 7-0 advantage.

The second Charger score of the initial quarter came after NV was forced to punt which gave ACGC the ball on their own 37 yard line. After the Chargers picked up a first down, Charlie Crawford broke loose for a 53 yard TD run for the second Charger score. After he added the PAT the lead went to 14-0.

ACGC threatened to score again after the Wolverines were forced to punt and the Chargers took the ball to the NV six yard line when the quarter came to a close. The first play of the second stanza found Cornelison finding pay dirt again on a 6 yard run. Crawford's PAT increased the lead to 21-0.

Once again the Charger defense forced a NV punt that Cayden Jensen returned 32 yards to the NV 38 yard line. Two plays later Cornelison scored his third TD on a 13 yard run, Crawford added the PAT and the lead increased to 28-0.

The final Charger score before halftime came after an interception by Ben Marsh gave the ball to ACGC just inside the midfield stripe. On the fifth play from scrimmage, Cornelison again found the end zone, rushing for a 20 yard touchdown. The halftime ended with a 35-0 ACGC lead.

The only score of the third quarter came on a sensational 71 yard kickoff return by Cayden Jensen to open the second half. Once again the PAT was good and the Charger lead had swelled to 42-0.

Early in the fourth quarter the Wolverines had the ball deep in their own territory at the six yard line. A trio of Chargers tackled the NV ball carrier in the end zone for a safety, tacking two more points onto the Charger score to make it 44-0.

Nodaway Valley got on the scoreboard after it recovered a Charger fumble inside the NV 20 yard line. With reserves playing for both teams, NV scored on an 82 yard pass play for its only score of the game.

ACGC replied with a score of its own on a five play drive covering 52 yards. Tegan Slaybaugh took the ball into the end zone from two yards out and Nate Chance added the two point conversion to reach the final score of 52-6.

Clearly the Charger rushing game topped the Wolverine passing attack. ACGC gained 442 yards on the ground while Nodaway Valley had 190 yards through the air. However, 82 of those NV yards came on one play when Charger reserves were on the field in the fourth quarter.

Cornelison led the Chargers with 172 yards, with Crawford adding 88 yards and Jensen coming up with 80 yards. The team averaged nearly 11 yards per rushing carry.

Score by quarter:

ACGC 14 21 7 10--52

NV 0 0 0 7-- 6

ACGC statistics: Passing: Brock Littler (7 passes, 4 completions for 30 yards and 0 touchdowns)

Rushing: Charlie Crawford (6 carries for 88 yards and 1 touchdown) Anthony Solorzano (3-24-0)

Tegan Slaybaugh (4-29-1) Cayden Jensen (5-80-0) Brock Littler (7-32-1) Nate Chance (1-13-0)

Gavin Cornelison (14-172-3) Seth Reno (1-4-0)

Receiving: Reid Rumelhart (2 receptions for 8 yards and no touchdowns) Cayden Jensen (2-22-0)

Kick Returns: Cayden Jensen (1 return for 71 yards and 1 touchdown)

Punt returns: Charlie Crawford (3 for 65 yards and no touchdowns)

Interceptions: Ben Marsh (1 interception for 0 yards) Austin Kunkle (1-0)

Tackles: Ben Marsh (3.5 total-0 solo-0 sacks) Charlie Crawford (.5-0-0) Miles Kading (.5-0-0) Reid Rumelhart (3-0-0) Austin Kunkle (5-3-0) Tegan Slaybaugh (.5-0-0) Cayden Jensen (4-4-0) Brock Littler (1-0-0) Taytum Bates (1-1-0) Dawson Muller (.5-0-0) Nate Chance (1-1-0) Griffin Ayers (3.5-2.0) Gavin Cornelison (6.5-4-0) Seth Reno (1-0-0) Dallas Jacobe (1-1-0) Payton Jacobe

(1-0-0) Mike Fuller (1-0-0) Jed Weinkoetz (1.5-1-0)