The wishbone offense of Northwood-Kensett was on full display Wednesday in a 48-21 win over Lisbon in the substate round of the Class A playoffs in Northwood and the defense came up big when it needed.

The trio of running backs Sam Arnold, Phil Fierova and Ryan Mueller all scored a touchdown and helped the team total 440 yards on the ground. Fierova led the team with 142 yards and had two touchdowns in the game. Arnold added 99 yards on eight carries and a touchdown.

After weeks of grinding its way to scores through time consuming drives, the Vikings offense has found quick strike scoring from the backfield. Fierova, Arnold and quarterback Jordan Reindl all had lengthy touchdown runs and even backup quarterback Spencer Capitani got loose in the fourth quarter for a 57-yard touchdown run for Northwood-Kensett.

“We just come out with intensity and we try to set a tone early on what we’re going to do all game,” said Reindl, who added a 20-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. “It’s just worked out so far.”

Arnold started the scoring for the No. 6-ranked Vikings (9-1) on the second play from scrimmage for Northwood-Kensett when he broke off a 64-yard touchdown run.

The Lions (5-5) responded with a touchdown on their next possession when Jesse Jamison punched it in from 1 yard out to tie the game at 7.

The Vikings would go on to score on their next three possessions to take a 28-7 lead, which was made possible by the help of the defense.

Lisbon tried to test the Northwood-Kensett secondary early and had some success, but Christian Burnes came up with the first of three Northwood-Kensett interceptions on the night. Burnes’ interception in the first quarter came just after Reindl had put the Vikings up 14-7 on a 20-yard touchdown run and sent a message that the secondary was just as tough as the run defense.

“I feel like we have some pretty good athletes in that secondary and if teams are going to throw on us they’re going to take that risk,” Northwood-Kensett head coach Dave Capitani said. “Fortunately we were able to pick a few.”

The Vikings defense has 15 interceptions on the year and has proven up to the task each time it has been challenged thus far.

Jamison added another touchdown from 4 yards out for the Lions that made the game 28-14, but Mueller added his second touchdown of the game with 10 seconds remaining in the half.

From there the Northwood-Kensett defense took over and held the Lions to just seven points the rest of the game. The defense limited Lisbon to 249 yards of total offense and did well to stop the run in the second half.

“The interceptions came up huge,” said junior linebacker Tyson Warner. “We were all excited on defense because we struggled a little bit. The interceptions kind of gave us a boost that we need to keep going.”

Warner and Reindl each intercepted passes in the second half. Warner finished the game with 18 tackles in another big performance. Last week against Rockford, Warner had 27 tackles. Warner leads the team 141 tackles on the season.

“Tyson has a good nose for the ball and he’s athletic,” Capitani said. “He’s done nothing but get better all year for us.”

Northwood-Kensett ran the ball so well that it did not attempt a pass the entire game. The closest the Vikings came to passing the ball came on a two-point conversion when Reindl tried to run right, but was wrapped up by two Lisbon defenders. Reindl got an arm free and sent a pitch to running back Phil Fierova who ran in from 2 yards out for the conversion.

After halftime the Vikings took their first possession of the second half 51 yards to make the game 41-14 after a Fierova 7-yard touchdown run.

Northwood-Kensett turned the ball over twice in the second half, but neither fumble hurt the team in an otherwise clean game.

The Vikings will face Central Elkader Monday in Cedar Falls, Iowa at the UNI Dome in the first round of the state playoffs. Central, Elkader (9-2) blew out Rockford Wednesday night 41-18.

N-K 48, Lisbon 21

Lisbon – 7 7 0 7 – 21

N-K – 21 14 6 7 – 48

First Quarter

N-K – Sam Arnold 64 run (Nik Warner kick)

Lisbon – Jesse Jamison 1 run (Jose Gonzalez kick)

N-K – Jordan Reindl 20 run (Werner kick)

N-K – Phil Fierova 32 run (Werner kick)

Second Quarter

N-K – Ryan Mueller 5 run (Werner kick)

Lisbon – Jamison 4 run (Gonzalez kick)

N-K – Mueller 1 run (Fierova run)

Third Quarter

N-K – Fierova 6 run (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

Lisbon – Jamison 9 run (Gonzalez kick)

N-K – Spencer Capitani 57 run (Warner kick)

Total offense

Lisbon – 249

N-K – 440

Total rushing

Lisbon – 131

N-K – 440

Total passing

Lisbon – 118

N-K – 0