A week after having trouble finishing drives against Tripoli, the Northwood-Kensett football team had no problems finding the end zone Friday against AGWSR, Ackley in Northwood.

The Vikings (5-2, 4-1 Class A, District 3) scored on their first six possessions of the game en route to a 40-0 victory over the Cougars.

Backup running back Derek Varner made the most of his opportunities and scored the first two touchdowns of the game for Northwood-Kensett. Varner, who started in place of Jayson Olson, scampered in from 10 yards out in the first quarter and added a 31-yard touchdown run on the Vikings’ second possession of the game.

Olson, who has missed time because of injury and illness, was going to start the game if Northwood-Kensett went on defense to start the game, but the Vikings received the opening kickoff and Varner was given his chance to show the team what he can do.

“Derek’s done a great job for us the last couple of weeks, filling in for Jayson some,” said Northwood-Kensett head coach Dave Capitani. “He really stepped up to the challenge.”

The Vikings bounced back from a sluggish 14-7 victory over Tripoli last week with 423 yards of total offense, including 163 yards from Sam Arnold on the ground.

Arnold broke free in the third quarter for a 90-yard touchdown run that extended Northwood-Kensett’s lead to 33-0.

Tyson Werner added three touchdowns and carried the ball 17 times for 61 times as the offense turned in perhaps its best effort of the season.

“Last week we just stubbed our toe time after time,” Capitani said. “We didn’t execute very well, we turned the ball over, we had penalties. That wasn’t the type of offensive team we were. I was real pleased to see the kids bounce back and have a good offensive performance.”

The Viking defense delivered its first shutout of the season and limited AGWSR, Ackley to just three first downs and 95 yards of total offense.

“Our defense has kind of been our backbone the last few weeks and really all year long they’ve been solid,” Capitani said.

The win sets up a pivotal game for Northwood-Kensett Thursday when the Vikings travel to Cedar Falls to face NU High at the UNI Dome in a game where they can claim a share of the district title and improve their seeding for the playoffs win a victory.

“It’s going to be for the district title and where we’re going to play, if we get to play another game at home,” Arnold said. “It’s a huge game and hopefully we can get it done.”

Northwood-Kensett 40, AGWSR 0

Northwood-Kensett 14 12 14 0— 40

AGWSR 0 0 0 0 —  0

First Quarter

N-K—Varner 10 run (Schindler kick), 7:36.

N-K—Varner 31 run (Schindler kick), 1:46.

Second Quarter

N-K—T. Werner 2 run (kick failed), 6:58.

N-K—T. Werner 1 run (run failed), 1:09.

Third Quarter

N-K—Arnold 90 run (Schindler kick), 8:43.

N-K—T. Werner 3 run (Schindler kick), 2:04.

N-K AGWSR

First Downs 16 3 Total Net Yards 423 95

Rushes-yards 54-406 25-60 Passing Yards 17 35

Punt Returns NA NA Kickoff Returns NA NA

Interceptions-Ret. 0-0 0-0

Comp-Att-Int 2-2-0 5-11-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 0-0 NA

Punts-Yards NA NA

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-0

Penalties-Yards 3-20 1-5

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—N-K, Arnold 9-163, Capitani 6-69, T. Werner 17-61 yards. AGWSR, Johnson 14-49.

PASSING—N-K, Spencer Capitani 2-2-0-17. AGWSR, Evan Johnson 5-11-0-35.

RECEIVING—N-K, Jayson Olson 1-11. AGWSR, Garrett Meyer 2-12.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.