Explosive Cardinals score early and often in blowout win over Oskaloosa

The Newton football team needed just 42 seconds to crack the scoreboard against Oskaloosa on Friday night.

The Cardinals scored early and often against the rival Indians and opened Class 4A District 4 action with a 45-7 home win at H.A. Lynn Stadium.

Newton scored 45 points in only 40 offensive plays, punted just once and held Oskaloosa to 107 total yards.

“Sometimes when it seems like you are favorites on paper, the preparation is almost more stressful,” Newton head football coach Andy Swedenhjelm said. “Our goal for our players is to work to get better every week. They knew they wanted to come out hot and try to go from the start. They were excited to go and were able to jump out early.”

It was the Cardinals’ third straight win in the series, and they’ve posted at least 45 points in all three victories. Oskaloosa has been outscored 87-14 the past two weeks.

Finn Martin hauled in a 54-yard touchdown pass from Caden Klein to open the scoring early in the first quarter, and the hosts never looked back.

Isaiah Hansen and Klein added touchdown runs of 48 and 14 yards, respectively, later in the period and Newton led 35-0 at halftime following two more touchdown runs by Hansen in the second.

Jackson Price booted a 20-yard field goal for the only points in the third and Colter Shaw got his first career varsity touchdown when he scored from 3 yards out in the fourth.

Oskaloosa’s touchdown came on a 46-yard run by Brock Beerbower in the fourth.

The Indians (0-5, 0-1 in the district) were limited to 15 passing yards and averaged only 3.8 yards per carry in the loss. They also were 3-of-11 on third down.

“The defense did and continues to do a fantastic job,” Swedenhjelm said. “We like to play fast, tough and physical football, and our defense embodies that. They love to fly around and leave it all on the field.”

Newton (4-1, 1-0) had a 17-5 advantage in first downs, scored six touchdowns in its 10 possessions and rushed for 302 yards.

Hansen ran for 140 yards and three TDs on eight carries. He averaged 17.5 yards per carry. His 736 rushing yards rank second in 4A and he’s tied for the class lead with 11 rushing touchdowns.

Hansen also ranks second in 4A with 871 all-purpose yards and sits third with a 10.4 yards per carry average.

Klein was 5-of-8 through the air for 120 yards and one TD. He also gained 48 yards and scored one TD on five carries.

Klein ranks second in the class with 946 passing yards and 1,210 offensive yards and is tied for third in the class with 10 passing TDs and 16 total TDs.

All five of Klein’s completions went to Martin, who had 120 yards and one TD.

Martin ranks third in 4A with 24 catches, leads the class with 548 receiving yards and ranks second with seven receiving touchdowns and a 22.8 yards per catch average.

“We’re lucky to have some pretty explosive athletes who are dangerous any time they touch the ball,” Swedenhjelm said. “It’s nice to have chunk yardage, but it also was nice to have a variety of guys contribute to that. The more guys you have who can attack, the more dangerous you are.”

Shaw gained 65 yards and scored a TD on 10 carries and Qhjuan Coley ran for 43 yards on three carries. Newton averaged 10 yards per carry.

Coleby Revell led the defense with four tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. It was Revell’s first sacks since 2023.

Shaw registered four tackles and forced one fumble, Nick Milburn totaled 3.5 tackles, Chris Deanda and Zach Sheffield posted three tackles and Colton Northcutt, Aaden Grimm, Ian White and Jesse Miller all had 2.5 tackles.

It was the first career varsity tackles for White and Miller. Sheffield also tallied one sack. Milburn’s 66 tackles lead 4A by 25 tackles.

Price was 5-of-5 in PATs and booted three touchbacks on his seven kickoffs. His 18 touchbacks this fall ranks second in 4A.

“It’s fun to get other contributions from guys in varsity action,” Swedenhjelm said. “I know the guys get fired up when guys who don’t typically get a lot of varsity time get their chances. It’s also nice from a coaching perspective to allow some of your starters to get limited reps and stay fresh for the meat of district play.”

Newton’s win sets up a 4A District 4 showdown with No. 3 Pella. The Cardinals and Dutch kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday in Pella.

Through five games, Newton’s offense leads 4A with 2,633 all-purpose yards and 2,299 offensive yards. The Cardinals’ 29 touchdowns rank third in the class.

Newton is tied for second in 4A with seven interceptions and tied for seventh with seven sacks.

Notes: There are only three undefeated teams left in 4A. Third-ranked Pella, No. 2 Cedar Rapids Xavier and No. 6 Gilbert. The Cardinals are one of eight teams who are currently 4-1. … No. 5 Fort Dodge suffered its first loss of the season on Friday, falling to No. 9 Sergeant Bluff-Luton, 38-0. … No. 10 Clear Creek-Amana (2-3) has lost two straight games.