Late scores lift Waukon past Cadet football team, prepare for Osage

CRESCO - After a tight first half which saw the Waukon Indians clinging to a 21-20 lead, the Indians tallied two fourth quarter touchdowns to defeat the Crestwood varsity football team, 34-20, on Friday, Sept. 22  in a downpour. 

The loss dropped Crestwood’s overall record to 1-4 and 1-1 in Class 2A District 3. Waukon improved to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in district play. North Fayette Valley leads the district with a 2-0 mark. Osage, Waukon, Crestwood and New Hampton are all tied for second at 1-1. Crestwood will play at Osage on Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday’s contest between the Cadets and Indians was a close battle for the first 24 minutes. 

Waukon received the opening kickoff and drove 53 yards in five plays with Jacob Courtney scoring on a two-yard run with 9:45 left in the first quarter. Dylan Hogan kicked the extra point to give the Indians a 7-0 lead.

Crestwood was quick to respond with a four-play, 79-yard drive, which was capped by a 25-yard touchdown run by Aidan Skoda with 8:25 left to cut the lead to 7-6. The point after kick was no good.

Less than three minutes later, Waukon quarterback Jaxon Brinkman scored on a three-yard run with 5:37 left. Hogan’s extra point pushed the lead to 14-6.

With 2:27 left in the first quarter, Cadet quarterback Dylan Shelton raced 46 yards to paydirt. Shelton completed the two-point pass to Nolan Johnson to tie the score at 14-all.

Late in the second quarter, Crestwood’s Caiden Simiele recovered a Waukon fumble at the Indians’ 10-yard line. Two plays later, Shelton scored on a three-yard run with 1:37 left before halftime to give the Cadets a 20-14 lead. The two-point run by Shelton was no good.

The lead did not last long for the Cadets. Three plays later, Brinkman raced 78 yards down the sidelines to paydirt for the Indians with 38 seconds left. Hogan kicked the extra point to give Waukon a 21-20 halftime lead.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Indians scored two touchdowns in the final eight minutes of the fourth. Brinkman scored on a one-yard run with 7:31 remaining in the fourth to push the lead to 27-20. The two-point pass failed.

Crestwood fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Waukon recovered at the Cadets’ 32-yard line. Seven plays later Brinkman scored on a two-yard run with 4:06 left. Hogan kicked the extra point to extend the lead to 34-20.

Less than 30 seconds later, the Indians recovered another Cadet fumble at the Waukon 36-yard line with 3:51 left. The Indians were able to run out the clock and earn the win.

“Waukon did a good job of controlling the ball, especially in the second half,” Cadet Head Coach Justin Denner said. “We only had the ball three times in the second half. Waukon was able to run the ball well and keep possession of the ball. Anytime you don’t have the ball, it’s hard to score.

“Our guys fought hard, though. There are some fundamental things we need to improve on, such as tackling. The conditions (rain) didn’t help us but when you need to make a play, you’ve got to make the play," the coach said.

 

A link to the broadcast of Crestwood's game against Osage on Sept. 29 is listed as follows: