ARMSTRONG – Trent Pedersen had scored all of the North Union Warriors football team’s touchdowns, but the team still trailed the Sioux Central Rebels late in the fourth quarter Friday night in Armstrong.

With 1:09 left in the game, Pedersen knocked in the eventual game-winning field goal, and teammate Hunter Pierce came up with a timely interception as the Warriors took a 17-14 victory in their final game of the season.

North Union closed out the year with a 4-5 record, while Iowa Class A, District 2 opponent Sioux Central finished at 3-6.

After a high snap, Andrew Schiltz got to the Rebels’ kicker, allowing the Warriors to start at the Rebels 10-yard line with 2:54 left in the game.

On the first play of the possession, the Warriors lost yardage and were pushed back to the 18. Pedersen chipped off four yards and an incomplete pass from Elliott Hagebock put the Warriors in a fourth-and-goal scenario from the 14.

The Warriors caught somewhat of a break when the Rebels were called for offsides. Pedersen then nailed the 16-yard field goal to give the Warriors back the lead for the first time since the 1:23 mark of the second quarter.

“I really think that we knew we were going to score,” Warriors head coach Matt Ernster said. “I don’t know if we knew we were going to get a field goal, but our guys had all the confidence in the world that we were going to score somehow and win the game.”

The Warriors managed to take off six seconds on the ensuing kickoff and the Rebels started their attempt to win the game at their 32. After two incomplete passes, sophomore quarterback Jake Hanson was sacked by Pedersen just before the Rebels called for a timeout.

Right after the timeout, Hanson tried a pass one more time and was successful, completing the 37-yarder to Kyle Hatch with 30 seconds to go.

“We told them we still had to play on. There’s 30 seconds, anything could happen,” Ernster said he and his coaching staff told the team. “Until the end, pour everything you got until the last seconds run off the clock.”

The Warriors responded accordingly. Pierce picked off Hanson’s pass right after the timeout to seal the Rebels’ fate.

Hanson ended the game going 3-for-5 with two interceptions to record 60 yards passing.

“Make sure they don’t get in the end zone,” Pierce said he told himself. “Make the play.”

The Warriors’ offense then took the victory formation, closing out the season on a high note with the three-point win.

“I can’t even describe the resiliency our guys showed. They stuck with it and had a great attitude and effort all night,” Ernster said. “That’s something we’ve been preaching all season long. They never got down, and I’m so proud of the guys and their effort tonight.”

After being down 14-8 going into the fourth quarter, freshman tackle Jake Anderson came up big for the Warriors with a fumble recovery to get the Warriors back the ball.

Pedersen made good on the turnover with a 37-yard run, getting the Warriors into Rebels territory. Pedersen and sophomore fullback Isaac Engeman shared rushing duties to get the Warriors down to the Rebels’ 5.

Pedersen ran the remaining yardage in to tie the score with 4:18 remaining in the contest.

Before giving up 14 points in the second quarter, the Warriors built an 8-0 lead to start the game. On the team’s first drive, Pedersen rushed in a one-yard score and the 2-point conversion at the 9:45 juncture.

The Rebels didn’t reach the scoreboard until the 7:41 mark of the second quarter when Hanson snuck in a one-yard TD. Brady Rusk then ran in the conversion for the game’s first tie.

The Rebels’ defense added on to the score when Prestan Samson intercepted one of Hagebock’s passes and ran in the pick-six. Though their 2-point try failed, the Rebels went into halftime with the 14-8 lead.

Carter Beckman totaled 148 yards on 24 totes for the Rebels. Rusk added with 55 yards on 18 carries before exiting the game with an injury early in the fourth quarter.

Pedersen finished the game with 24 carries for a team-high 121 yards to complement a 39-yard pass to Derek Thompson.

“Trent is unbelieveable, an unselfish kid,” Ernster said. “He moved to the line for half a season and moved back into the backfield for the last half. He’s unquestionably one of our leaders.

“It’s unbelieveable what he did tonight. He put the team on his back.”

Sioux Central 0 14 0 0-14

North Union 8 0 0 9-17

Scoring Plays

1st Quarter

NU-Trent Pedersen 1 run (Pedersen run), 9:45.

2nd Quarter

SC-Jake Hanson 1 run (Brady Rusk run), 7:41.

3rd Quarter

No scoring.

4th Quarter

NU-Pedersen 5 run (run fail), 4:18.

NU-Pedersen 16 FG, 1:09.

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs: Sioux Central 13, North Union 12. Passing: Sioux Central 3-5-2-60; North Union 3-7-1-56. Rushing: Sioux Central 45-208; North Union 35-161. Fumbles-lost: North Union 2-1; Sioux Central 1-1. Penalties: Sioux Central 6-73; North Union 7-54.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Offense: Passing: Jake Hanson (SC) 3-5-2-60; Elliott Hagebock (NU) 2-5-1-17. Rushing: Trent Pedersen (NU) 24-121; Carter Beckman (SC) 24-148; Brady Rusk (SC) 18-55. Receiving: Kyle Hatch (SC) 2-55.

Defense: Interception: Hunter Pierce (NU); Prestan Samson (SC). QB Sack: Trent Pedersen. Fumble recovery: Jake Anderson (NU).