Warhawks score late, but fall short of unbeaten North Butler, 51-7

Here’s to better days ahead for the West Fork football team. After getting shut out for its first two games of the season, the Warhawks were finally able to strike paydirt in its latest outing.

Despite the score, the Warhawks had trouble containing North Butler, falling in a 51-7 result in a Class A-District 2 matchup held last Friday night at the North Butler Athletics Complex in Greene.

After 11 quarters of offensive struggle since the beginning of the 2021 season, West Fork finally scored with a 25-yard touchdown connection between senior quarterback Nate Hubka and senior wide receiver Dakota Lau. However, West Fork also saw their three-game winning streak over the Bearcats come to a painful end, which spanned back to 2016.

As the Warhawks remained winless at 0-3 overall with a 0-2 record within Class A-District 2, the Bearcats kept their perfect record intact at 3-0, with a 2-0 mark within league play.

West Fork will face an uphill battle, as the Warhawks travel to No. 1-ranked (Class A) West Hancock on Friday at Bob Sanger Field in Britt. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The top-ranked Eagles (3-0, 2-0 in district) smashed Lake Mills with a 54-0 victory last Friday in Britt.

North Butler will hit the road this week, facing off against BCLUW in a nondistrict matchup at 7 p.m. on Friday in Conrad. The Comets (0-3) fell to AGWSR, 42-14, last Friday in Ackley.

The Bearcats wasted no time in building up a substantial lead, holding a 28-0 advantage by the end of the first quarter. By halftime, North Butler went into the locker room with a 51-0 lead over the Warhawks.

After a scoreless third quarter, West Fork made a trip to the endzone in the fourth quarter, as Hubka tossed a pass to Lau for the Warhawks’ first touchdown of the season. Sophomore Sander Tompkins booted the point-after attempt through the uprights.

The 51-7 score would hold until the final buzzer.

Subbing for junior quarterback Trevor Guritz, Hubka went 2-of-4 for 62 yards and one touchdown. Hubka also rushed for 18 yards on four carries and had two tackles on defense.

Senior Jaxon Mclemore rushed for 39 yards on 11 carries, and snagged one pass for 37 yards. Senior Ki Janssen spearheaded the defensive effort with five and a half tackles, including one tackle for a loss. Junior Josiah Chibambo had five tackles, followed by four and a half tackles from Mclemore and Lau.

Freshman Cannen Void tallied a sack against the Bearcats.

North Butler had no trouble running the rock, led by senior Kolben Miller’s 72 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. Miller also returned a West Fork punt for a touchdown.

Senior Logan Ott also picked up 72 yards and a trip to the endzone on one attempt, along with three tackles for a loss. Junior Dawson Testroet ran for 67 yards and a touchdown on one carry, and junior Corbin Lewis also scored for the Bearcats.