CLEARING A PATH — North Union running back Landon Hagedorn (34) picks up teammate Drew Henderson’s block on Okoboji defender Tyler Netsch (2) during season-opening Iowa prep football action Friday night in Armstrong. North Union running back Kaden Laabs (8) looks to provide a block upfield. (Photo by Greg Abel)

ARMSTRONG — The North Union football team’s season-opener against the Okoboji Pioneers was a success on Friday night in Armstrong.

Running back Landon Hagedorn put the Warriors on his shoulders, rushing 42 times for 264 yards with four touchdowns to help the home team edge the Pioneers 26-20.

Hagedorn’s final touchdown run of 5 yards with 3:35 left in the fourth quarter was the difference. His other three TD runs covered 5, 5 and 1 yard, respectively.

“Landon has waited his time to be the feature back,” North Union head coach Matt Ernster said. “He blocked as a fullback the last two years. He ran tough tonight and was a load for Okoboji when he carried the ball.

“After halftime, all phases of our game came together. We rose and faced some adversity tonight to win a tough one.”

Okoboji scored in the opening quarter when its defense put six points on the board when Caleb Simington returned a fumble 40 yards for a touchdown. Asher Knudtson kicked the extra point to give the Pioneers a 7-0 lead.

North Union had a long drive end to Okoboji’s 1-yard line. The Warriors, however, couldn’t punch the ball into the end zone on fourth down.

The Warriors got on the board, recording a safety when the Pioneers’ long snapper snapped the ball over the punter’s head and it hit the crossbar of the goalpost midway through the second quarter.

The Warriors used the Pioneers’ free kick to move the ball down field and Hagedorn’s 5-yard touchdown run gave the Warriors an 8-7 lead. Their two-point conversion try came up short.

The Pioneers drove the length of the field in one minute and quarterback Landon Duvall scored on a 5-yard run with only 6 seconds left before halftime. Their two-point try was no good, but they took a 13-8 lead into the half.

In the second half, Hagedorn took over and helped the Warriors’ offense put three touchdowns on the board.

Hagedorn scored on a 1-yard run with 5:48 left in the third quarter and scored the tying TD on the first play of the final quarter. His game-winning TD was late in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Grady Madden threw only 15 passes, completing 8 for 64 yards with one interception. He also carried the ball seven times for 40 yards.

Defensively, Colin Rasch had seven tackles and a quarterback sack, while Talan Priester had five tackles and two key passes defended on the Pioneers’ final drive.

Hagedorn had a fumble recovery and quarterback sack. John Waller also had a quarterback sack.

Kolton Walter recovered a fumble as North Union’s defense held Okoboji’s offense to only seven points in the second half.

North Union (1-0) plays host to the St. Ansgar Saints at 7 p.m. next Friday in Armstrong.

“We have to work to fix our mistakes as we prepare to host a traditional powerhouse with St. Ansgar,” Ernster said. “They’re solid in all phases of the game; so we have to be ready to play them.”

Scoring Plays

1st Quarter

OKO — Caleb Simington 40 yard fumble recovery. Asher Knudtson extra point, 10:58.

2nd Quarter

NU — Safety, 7:44.

NU — Landon Hagedorn 5 yard run. Two-point try failed, 1:02.

OKO — Landon Duvall 5 yard run. Two-point try failed, 6:00.

3rd Quarter

NU — Landon Hagedorn 1 yard run. Two-point try failed, 5:48.

OKO — Landon Duvall 2-yard run. Asher Knudtson extra point, 3:04.

4th Quarter

NU — Landon Hagedorn 5 yard run. Two-point try failed, 11:56.

NU — Landon Hagedorn 5 yard run. Two-point try failed, 3:35.

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Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman 32, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 12 — Hunter Grathwohl returned the season-opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown to ignite the Jaguars’ 20-point victory over the Coyotes during Week Zero football action Friday night in Heron Lake.

Grathwohl also reached the end zone two more times via the run, scoring from 3 and 18 yards out, respectively. Grathwohl finished with 116 of the Jaguars’ 291 rushing yards on just six totes.

Quarterback Jackson Madsen topped the Jaguars’ ground attack by amassing a game-best 136 yards and TD sprints from 92 and 22 yards out, respectively, on only 10 carries.

Madsen also completed 13 of 26 passes for 112 yards on the opener.

Grathwohl also topped the Jaguars in receiving by making five catches for 67 yards, while Luke Kester pocketed four tosses for 27 yards.

Ashton Spear contributed a 10-yard scoring run to account for the Jaguars’ points of the second quarter en route to a 20-6 halftime lead.

Cohl Becker led the Jaguars’ defense by recording 7.5 tackles, while Aiden Wieland notched 6.5 stops and recovered a fumble. Jayden Bellecourt chipped in four tackles, while Carter Brudelie added a fumble recovery.

Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman (1-0) plays host to Edgerton at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, in Truman.