It was a firework start to the season for the Audubon Football team as they cruised to a 64-18 win over the defending state champion Remsen-St. Mary’s Hawks. A 40-point first quarter put the Wheelers in the driver’s seat almost immediately. A two play 50-yard opening drive for the Wheelers with a turnaround scoop and score gave Audubon 16 points in the game’s first few minutes. It was a collection of big play scores for the Wheelers all night long and the ability to pressure the Hawks’ offense all night were the keys to the lopsided victory. Sophomore quarterback Aiden Kjergaard led the way for Audubon rushing for nearly 200 yards and finding the end zone with his feet four times all in the first half. The second half provided the opportunity for many younger players to see more snaps that ever before in their careers, including Sophomore Paxton Beane who put the cherry on top for the Wheelers with a 30-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

Early in the first quarter, Audubon’s defense stood out with a three and out stop to get the ball right away from the Hawks. It only took a 22-yard run by Sophomore Mason Kasperbauer and a 28-yard Aiden Kjergaard touchdown run to put the Wheelers ahead 6-0. On the two point try, Burks reaches into his bag of tricks and a handoff to Junior Karson Obermeier turns into his pass to the big man Hayden Larsen for the full eight points.

Sophomore Dalton Klein started at quarterback for the Hawks and completed a pass to his receiver but was fumbled and scooped up by Kasperbauer for a 15-yard fumble recovery for the touchdown followed by a successful two-point conversion. Audubon was ahead 16-0 just a few minutes in.

Another defensive stop by the Wheelers, gave themselves the ball right away again. Kjergaard copied the result of the first drive and finds the end zone a second time from 28 yards out and all of a sudden it was 24-0 Audubon halfway through the first quarter.

Remsen St. Mary’s quickly down three scores caps off their first touchdown drive of the night with a Klein 24-yard connection to Sophomore Beau Johnson for the score. Unlike, Audubon Remsen-St. Mary’s was unable to succeed on a two-point attempt.

After the Hawks score, Kjergaard gets the football back and doesn’t need much time. The sophomore quarterback split the gap, busted to the outside and dashed to his third touchdown run of the night but this time from 44 yards out. After that, the Wheelers defense wasn’t done scoring as they intercept Klein for the first of two times on the night. The pass was intercepted by Kasperbauer and taken to the house from 20 yards out.

Remsen St. Mary’s down 40-6 late in the first quarter catches a spark on a deep ball from Klein to Johnson again from 58 yards out. The first quarter ended at 40-12.

In the second, Audubon didn’t slow down as Kjergaard proved he has an arm too. He hits Senior Tight End Brody Weber over the middle for 45 yards followed by Kasperbauer sprinting to the end zone from 24 yards out to give Audubon a 48-12 advantage. Kjergaard capped off the half with another rushing touchdown from 46 yards out and took a 56-12 lead into the locker room.

In the second half, the teams emptied their benches as the running clock was utilized. Both teams exchanged touchdowns as the game ended at 64-18.

Audubon Head Coach Sean Birks was thrilled with the start of the game.

Birks believes he will utilize both Kjergaard and Wessel in the quarterback position throughout the season.

The pressure was where it needed to be according to Burks.

Audubon improves to 1-0 after the 64-18 victory while the Hawks drop to 0-1. Audubon will head south to Griswold next week as Remsen-St. Mary’s travels to GTRA.