Oskaloosa Falls in Defensive Battle at Ottumwa

Ottumwa, Iowa — August 29, 2025

The Oskaloosa Indians opened their football season on the road Friday night against Ottumwa, dropping a hard-fought 7–0 contest in a defensive struggle. Both teams leaned on their defenses, with the game ultimately decided by a single long touchdown run midway through the third quarter.

First Half: Stalemate in the Trenches

Neither team found the end zone in the opening two quarters. Oskaloosa moved the ball effectively on its first possession, with Parker Jordan and Heavon Knox each breaking runs that pushed the offense into Ottumwa territory. Quarterback Tyler Edgar connected with Kayne Boender for a 14-yard gain during that drive, but a sack on fourth down halted the momentum.

Ottumwa responded with a ground-heavy approach behind quarterback Tyler Schaus, but Oskaloosa’s front line, led by Brock Beerbower and Grady Kennedy, held firm and forced a turnover on downs.

Fumbles plagued both teams in the second quarter. Edgar lost the ball deep in Oskaloosa territory, but the defense answered immediately when Kennedy recovered a fumble to stop an Ottumwa red-zone chance. Neither side could capitalize on the turnovers, sending the game into halftime tied 0–0.

Third Quarter: Breakthrough Play

The game’s only points came late in the third quarter. After trading punts, Ottumwa’s Spencer Dalbey broke free for a 63-yard touchdown run with 2:53 left in the period. The extra point by Joel Hallgren made it 7–0, and the score held the rest of the way.

Oskaloosa tried to respond with a series of short runs from Jordan and Knox, but drives were stalled by penalties and interceptions. Edgar finished with 55 yards passing and three interceptions, while Jordan led the rushing attack with 38 yards. Knox added 49 yards on the ground and 33 yards receiving.

Defensive Effort

Oskaloosa’s defense played with intensity throughout the game, recording 53 total tackles. Beerbower finished with 10 stops, while Jordan added eight and Kennedy tallied seven along with a fumble recovery. The unit also blocked a field goal attempt in the third quarter, keeping the Indians within striking distance.

Despite controlling the clock for nearly 26 minutes and picking up 10 first downs to Ottumwa’s six, Oskaloosa was unable to turn field position into points.

Looking Ahead

The loss drops Oskaloosa to 0–1 on the season. The Indians will look to rebound next week as they continue their non-district schedule.