The Audubon Football team is moving on to the Eight-Man semifinals and clinches their first trip to the UNI-Dome in four seasons with a dramatic 26-19 victory at undefeated Iowa Valley Thursday night. Despite just six second half points, the Wheelers defense buckled down late in the fourth to prevent a Tiger comeback potentially forcing overtime. The fireworks began on the first snap of the ballgame when Junior Nolan Kriegel found his top receiver Layne Peska for a 65-yard touchdown pass to quickly put Iowa Valley ahead 6-0. The first possession of the game for the Wheelers was methodical with a holding call in the middle of the drive. Facing a fourth and 23 early, Sophomore Quarterback Aiden Kjergaard found a wide-open Austin Christinsen in the corner of the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown pass with the two-point try included. The game was 8-6 Wheelers six minutes in. After the score, Audubon’s defense settled in forcing a Tiger three and out. Kjergaard marched the Wheelers across midfield and ended the drive dashing a touchdown 30 yards out to put Audubon ahead 14-6.

In the second quarter, Iowa Valley drove down the field facing a fourth down and short inside the Audubon 15 and failed to convert. Just like Audubon has done all year, they have capitalized on big plays from the defense as Kjergaard goes the distance for his second rushing touchdown of the game from 60 yards out. With the score, Audubon took a 20-6 lead into the half. Audubon received the football to begin the second half and faced a third and long deep in their own territory. The Kjergaard to Christensen connection comes up clutch again as the sophomore quarterback finds a wide-open Christiansen for a 64-yard touchdown pass to put the Wheelers up 20.

Iowa Valley wouldn’t go away lightly though as they began to chip into the Audubon lead. Later in the third, it was only a matter of time until the state’s touchdown leader in Nolan Kriegel found the end zone from 20 yards out to make it a 26-12 lead. Audubon’s offense became stagnant as the game progressed into the later stages causing the Tigers and their fans to grasp momentum. Kriegel puts his team within one score late in the third after a 34-yard touchdown run. 

In the fourth, the defenses shined brightest as both teams stopped each other twice. Iowa Valley had the football with just over two minutes left and had a chance to tie the game or even win it. Despite a fourth and one conversion it wasn’t enough as time expired on a Peska run from the Wildcat. Audubon had hung on to win 26-19.

Head Coach Sean Birks believes this is an achievement not just for the 2025 team but the entire Audubon program as a whole.

After the first play touchdown from Iowa Valley, there was no panic.

Birks gave major credit to the defensive effort.

The coaching staff had full trust in their team to pull through down the stretch.

Audubon will play their semifinal matchup from the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls on Wednesday.