The Atlantic Trojans fought hard to the bitter end but a slow offensive start was too much to overcome in a 42-7 loss to the Nevada Cubs on Friday night. The game started with a nice spark as Nolan Waters brought the opening kickoff out to the 44 yard line but the Trojans couldn’t move the ball and ended that first possession with an interception. The two teams then traded punts before Nevada opened up the scoring. Connor King hit capped off an 11 play drive for the cubs with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Kingsbury.

The King to Kingsbury connection became the story of the night. The duo hooked up for four scoring connections on the night. Kingsbury came into the contest with 7 touchdown catches on the season and he made some terrific catches to pile four more scores onto that number. The Cubs star running back Cason Stevenson also had a nice night with scoring runs of 8 and 12 yards.

Atlantic couldn’t hit any big plays early and didn’t pick up a first down until their final drive of the first half. The Trojans fought hard in the second half though. They recovered an onside kick to start the half and drove the ball downfield with hard running to get a score. Dante Hedrington capped off that possession with a one-yard plunge. The Trojans ran the ball pretty effectively in the second half but it was too little, too late.

After the Trojans score to open up the second half the Cubs swung back quickly. Stevenson had a 42-yard touchdown two plays after the Atlantic score to thwart any Trojan momentum.

Nevada improved to 7-2 on the season and will wait for their playoff pairing. Atlantic finishes the 2023 season with a mark of 3-6.

8-Player Playoffs

Audubon 30, Boyer Valley 6
CAM 75, Southeast Warren 12 ON CAM COUGAR CHANNEL
Exira-EHK 30, Glidden-Ralston 16 ON KJAN
Bedford 65, Fremont-Mills 14
Iowa Valley 78, BGM 77
Bishop Garrigan 63, Janesville 6
Central City 52, Kee 28
Clarksville 68, Turkey Valley 26
Collins-Maxwell 72, Twin Cedars 14
Don Bosco 62, Edgewood-Colesburg 22
Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Montezuma
Lenox 60, Woodbine 28
Lone Tree 45, Moravia 33
Remsen St. Mary’s, Harris-Lake Park

8-Player Extra Game Scheduled

Colo-Nesco 60, Dunkerton 22
Easton Valley, English Valleys

Collins-Maxwell 72, Twin Cedars 14

Griswold, Sioux City Chrisitan

Class A Playoffs

ACGC 34, Mount Ayr 18
Akron-Westfield 35, Tri-Center 0
Maquoketa Valley 57, Columbus 21
Central Decatur 14, Earlham 13
East Buchanan 46, South Winneshiek 3
Lisbon 14, North Linn 6
Logan-Magnolia 26, South Central Calhoun 20
Lynnville-Sully 28, Pekin 6
Madrid 45, IKM-Manning 7
MMCRU 50, Kingsley-Pierson 14
Nashua-Plainfield 21, Lake Mills 14
Saint Ansgar 23, Sibley-Ocheyedan 6
Starmont 17, North Butler 0
Wapsie Valley 43, Danville 6
West Hancock 38, Gehlen Catholic 22

Woodbury Central 51, North Union 13

Class 1A Playoffs

PWest Branch 35, Pleasantville 20
Columbus Catholic 47, Pocahontas Area 6
Emmetsburg 20, Ridge View 8
Grundy Center 50, Cascade 14
Wilton 49, Woodward-Granger 21
AHSTW 21, Hinton 0
Regina Catholic 48, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 20
Dike-New-Hartford 51, Manson-NW Webster 6
MFL MarMac 55, Hudson 3
South Hamilton 24, Denver 8
OABCIG 49, Shenandoah 14
Pella Christian 43, Ogden 0
Sigourney Keota 52, West Central Valley 7
Treynor 31, West Sioux 13
Underwood 44, East Sac County 6

Class 1A/2A Extra Game Scheduled

East Marshall 35, Colfax-Mingo 13

Saydel 34, Grand View Christian 32

Class 2A Playoffs

Camanche 42, West Burlington-Notre Dame 14
Clarinda 56, Des Moines Christian 28
Central Lyon-George/Little Rock 42, Okoboji 7
Western Christian 26, Estherville Lincoln Central 14
Jesup 20, Crestwood 14
Mediapolis 28, Anamosa 21
Kuemper Catholic, Cherokee Washington
Mid-Prairie 49, Northeast 18
PCM 42, Interstate-35 0
Roland Story 42, Clarke 7
Spirit Lake 49, Southeast Valley 0
Van Meter 56, Albia 7
Union Community 21, Waukon 7
West Lyon 50, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 0

Class 3A

District 6
Creston 49, Perry 14
Nevada 42, Atlantic 7
Harlan 42, Knoxville 26

Class 4A

District 6
Glenwood 53, Norwalk 35
Lewis Central 28, Dallas Center-Grimes 7
Winterset 28, CB Jefferson 15

District 1
Denison-Schleswig 1, Sioux City West 0 (Forfeit)
Spencer 45, Fort Dodge 0
LeMars 55, Storm Lake 14

Class 5A

District 2
Waukee 42, CB Abraham Lincoln 0
Johnston 48, Sioux City East 13
Southeast Polk 55, Des Moines Lincoln 0

Exira-EHK played their best football Friday night and it earned them a victory in the first round of playoff football 30-16 against Glidden-Ralston. In the first quarter both teams scored on their opening drives. And, then each responded with a three and out. The offense found itself once again scoring multiple times before halftime making it 22-8. Jameson Kilworth threw for 138 yards and two touchdowns in the first half and connected with Each Emgarten 4 times for 108 yards, and 2 scores.

In the second half the offense started to slow down for the Spartans as Glidden-Ralston forced two sacks and scored again with their run game to make it 22-16. Exira-EHK responded with an impressive drive marching down the field. They found themselves on a crucial fourth and goal with Kilworth scrambling and finding Alex Hansen for 10 yards in the corner of the end zone to make it 30-16. The Wildcats sideline seemed deflated after the score and had a turnover on downs with the following drive.

The offense for Exira-EHK showed out thanks to players like Jameson Kilworth going 12-19, for 212 yards, and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions.

It was difficult game for the Spartans, regardless of the score. But Exira-EHK Head Coach Drew Buckholdt shared that he’s been having his team prepare for tough games like this.

A playoff win is big for Exira-EHK and this competitive Spartans team.

If the Exira-EHK team plays like they did tonight. With their defense grabbing two interceptions, having two sacks, and one fumble recovery. There could be a deep playoff run for the Spartans. But, it starts with cleaning up a few things and embracing whoever is in the next round.

The next round of the 8-player playoff schedule will be released Saturday morning.