Despite Turnovers, Indians Claim Playoff Berth

The Oskaloosa defense spent a lot of time on the field during the Friday night contest.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Indians’ explosive new offense took the field on Friday night, but they struggled holding onto the ball.

Before the game, Oskaloosa Head Football Coach, Jake Jenkins, told Oskaloosa News that he expected the game to be a tough one for his team. The Indians did finally claim a 28-27 victory over the Demons with a defensive stop.

The Indians’ day wasn’t their normal routine, with school being out due to parent-teacher conferences. Jenkins said the off-day had his team playing a “little lackadaisical. I could see it in the first half”.

“When it came down to it, we responded” says Jenkins.

The Washington Demons were the number one team in the state earlier in the season. Injuries depleted the Demons’ ranks during the season. On Friday night, they came out determined to salvage what they could of their season.

At halftime, the score was tied at 21 each, and Jenkins addressed the turnovers with his team. “If it’s tied 21-21 with that many turnovers, imagine what we’re going to do when we don’t turn the ball over”.

Stopping the running game has, on occasion, been trouble for the Indians’ defense, and Washington took to the ground and had some success. The defense for Oskaloosa, who spent a lot of time on the field, was able to come up with some key plays to stop the Demons.

All year long, Jenkins and the Indians defense set the goal of not allowing more than 15 points per game.

“Tough kids, we’ve got a lot of tough kids”, said Jenkins of the efforts of his team. “They want it”.

The call at the end of the game, that saw Washington go for a 2-point conversion to win the game, ultimately decided the game in favor of the Indians, when the Oskaloosa defense stepped up and stopped the run. “Holy cow, how can it be that close? What an exciting ending”, said Jenkins.

“They earned it, they deserve it”, says Jenkins of the Indians’ victory over Washington.

Oskaloosa will take on West Burlington on Friday night at home. Keeping focused and not overlooking the final regular season game before the playoffs, Jenkins explained that the team will “stick with the plan. Our plans are one game at a time, four quarters at a time”.

“It doesn’t matter who beats whom. On any given night anybody can beat anybody”, says Jenkins. “We did not overlook them [Washington]”.