The Audubon Wheelers had a sharp 42-18 win against the Woodbine Tigers on Friday night thanks to an overwhelming rushing attack and physical defense. The Wheelers did not waste much time scoring first with a 31-yard dashing score by Aaron Olsen to put Audubon up 6-0, barely two and a half minutes into the ball game. Woodbine’s response was to look to their pass game and quarterback Brody Pryor to lead them down the field. After a few meticulous throws by Pryor, he handed the ball off to Micah Moores from nine yards out to tie it up at 6-6. A few plays later, Audubon quarterback found Olsen down the sideline on a 29-yard touchdown throw giving Audubon a 12-6 lead that they would never relinquish for the rest of the night.

In the following series the Wheelers defense held firm forcing a punt that was botched near the goal line and scooped up by Audubon’s Ely Jorgensen for a defensive touchdown making the lead now 20-6. The defense for Audubon continued to control the line of scrimmage against the Tigers and that produced two more Audubon touchdowns, one a 15-yard catch and throw to Brody Weber, and the other a 58-yard touchdown sprint by Wessel. The game suddenly turned into a mismatch with the Wheelers now leading 34-6 midway through the second quarter. The second quarter did see a 62-yard touchdown pass from Pryor to Landon Blum, but that was diminished by the Woodbine’s two interceptions and turnover on downs near the endzone. At the half the Wheelers led 34-12.

The third quarter saw more miscues for Woodbine with a mishandled punt being leaked out from the tigers return man and recovered by the Wheelers inside the Tigers 20. Audubon would throw an interception of their own on the following drive to give Woodbine decent field position. But the Tigers ensuing drive would end in bitter fashion with an interception thrown into the endzone on a first and goal.

The Wheelers final score of the game was in the fourth quarter, on a third and goal from the Woodbine one yard line Wessel churned his way through multiple defenders to give his team one more touchdown. It was then a 42-12 ball game. The Tigers did have one more score left in them when Pryor connected with Dillon Reed from 27 yards away in the endzone to make a final 42-18 score.

On a night where a quarterfinal trip was on the line, the Audubon defense came through big time forcing four interceptions and key scoring opportunities on special teams. Olsen had another standout night for his team having two takeaways of his own. Wheelers head coach Sean Birks has been constantly impressed by the effort he has shown all year.

Coach Birks also gave praise to the way his defense held their composure throughout Friday’s battle.

The Audubon offense had 267 yards of rushing with Wessel accounting for 176 yards of it. The Wheelers also ran for three touchdowns. Friday’s win was not only special for coach Birks because of the advancement in the playoffs, but also because the victory marked 100 career wins for Birks.

Woodbine was ked in offense by Pryor passed for 289 yards and two touchdowns. Moores was the leading rusher with 13 carries, 35 yards, and one touchdown. Friday’s win propels Audubon to the quarterfinals against Remsen St. Marys next Thursday night. The Tiger’s loss ends their season with a final record of 8-2.