ROLLIN’ TO THE DOME: Audubon Beats Iowa Valley in Quarterfinals, 26-19

Audubon's Aiden Kjergaard (11-6-25)

Audubon's Austin Christensen (11-6-25)

ROLLIN’ TO THE DOME: Audubon Beats Iowa Valley in Quarterfinals, 26-19 –

(11-6-25) – Tremendous defense was on display in the 8-player quarterfinals Thursday.

Audubon would make one final stop of Iowa Valley as time expired to cling to a 26-19 victory and reach the UNI Dome for the first time since 2021.

With :02 left, the Tigers had the ball on the Wheelers 15 with a chance to tie. But Audubon’s defense forced Layne Peska to flee the pocket and run up the middle where he was tackled at 7 yd-line to preserve the victory.

Austin Christensen, who had 11.5 tackles including 2 and a half for a loss, talked about how the defense works so well together.

“Our defense has always been kind of united. I'd say our D-line is outstanding. They just filter everything to us and they do what they're supposed to (do). Everybody does their one-eighth, and we keep on going.”

It was a shaky start for the Wheelers defense as the Tigers scored on their first play from scrimmage, a 65-yd TD pass to Peska from Nolan Kriegel.

But Audubon would bounce back on the next series, getting a 26-yd TD pass from Aiden Kjergaard to Christensen on 4th and long get on the board and take an 8-6 lead. It would lead the Wheelers to 26 unanswered points.

Christensen also had 3 catches for 99 yards and scored on two touchdowns from Aiden Kjergaard, who talked about the connection the two have offensively.

“Austin's a great guy, I trust him," said Kjergaard. "He's a great athlete, putting work together throughout the past year, and trust him. He's just a great guy to throw to and he always gets open.”

Kjergaard threw for 115 yards and the two scores, while also rushing for 162 yards and getting two others.

After Audubon started the 2nd half with a 64-yd TD strike to Christensen, Iowa Valley would let Kriegel loose as he would score on a 20-yd run to cap an 11-play, 54 yd drive that took over 7 minutes off the clock. The Tigers defense then forced a 3 & out that led to Kriegel scoring from 36 yds out with :22 left in the 3rd qtr and make it one score game.

But the defense for the Wheelers would hold in the 4th qtr, stopping the Tigers on downs twice before their final stand to end the game.

For Christensen, making it Cedar Falls has been a family affair that he’s proud to join.

“I remember my brother played there his senior year and I try to be better than him all the time. So it's kind of unique to have two of us that went there.”

The Wheelers will play Bishop Garrigan in the first 8-player semifinals in Wednesday.

View past scores by visiting the Iowa High School Athletic Association's website, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union website,
or Iowa Quik Stats