The Audubon Wheelers fought hard in a hard-hitting 8-man football game at Fremont-Mills on Friday night but came up short 39-21. It was a game of big momentum changes as the Knights raced out to an early 20-0 lead before the Wheelers rallied back to lead 21-20. The Knights then took advantage of some Wheeler mistakes to capture the win in the fourth quarter.

Jaeger Powers opened the game with a bang for F-M with a 65 yard touchdown run on the first offensive play. The Wheelers nearly answered right back on their first drive but Ethan Klocke had a ball squeeze through his hands in the end zone on a 4th down attempt. The Knights turned that opportunity into more points with a 51 yard pass play that set up a 13-yard Mason Vanatta touchdown run. The Knights got another TD run for Jaeger Powers to lead 20-0 after a botched PAT.

The Wheelers then started their rally with a Freshman at quarterback. Skyler Schultes was knocked out of the game with a concussion late in the first quarter and Freshman Gavin Smith and newcomer Kaiden Smith would take the snaps the rest of the way. Gavin Smith hooked up with Ethan Klocke on a 31 yard touchdown pass with 4:39 left in the first half to give the Wheelers some hope. They then started off the second half in flawless fashion. The Wheelers drove down the field in 11 plays and scored on a Kaiden Smith touchdown run to cut the lead to 20-14. The Wheelers forced a three and out by the Knights and rode Kaiden Smith down the field for another score to take the lead after the PAT 21-20.

Three straight possessions would end in fumbles with Audubon losing two and Fremont-Mills coughing up one. The Knights would benefit from great field position on the last fumble that set them up at the Audubon 21 with 11:21 left in the game. Mason Vanatta used a nifty run to punch it in and regain the lead for F-M at 26-21. The Knights then backed the Wheelers up deep on their next possession with a penalty and a play for loss. The Wheelers had to make Gavin Smith attempt to punt from the back of his own end zone and the kick was blocked and the Knights recovered on the Audubon 2 yard line. After a penalty stepped them back the Knights got it home with Jaeger Powers’ third TD of the game. A turnover on downs would set the Knights up for their final score, an 18 yard run by Seth Malcom.

The Knights were able to overcome losing a 20-point lead for the second week in a row and improve to 1-1 with the win. They take on Clarinda Academy in district play next week. Audubon falls to 1-1 and will open district play against Exira-EHK next Friday.