Baier’s big game helps Tigers to first win

After two weeks of offensive struggles and zero points in an 0-2 start, Red Oak football coach Michael Nordeen got his team back to the basics in week three against West Central Valley.
Adam Baier, an All-Hawkeye 10 running back a year ago, who had been held in check this season, touched the ball 44 times and amassed 309 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in a 30-22 victory over the Wildcats to snap the Tigers’ two-game skid on Friday in Stuart.
“Adam said he wanted to be a warrior and he’s a senior and he kind of put this game on his back,” said Red Oak coach Michael Nordeen. “The other guys responded, which was the best part. The effort was there. We could see the actual learning going on. Offensive lineman going from a d-lineman to hit a linebacker on key blocks. That was the big thing we built on.”
Despite the Wildcats’ 2-0 record entering the game, Nordeen felt he and his coaches saw opportunities to move the ball.
“We’ve beaten them four years in a row now, but the last two years have been close,” he said. “But we were pretty confident going in. I was talking to (assistant coach) Tristan Johnson before the game, and I had butterflies and was nervous. That’s always a good sign.”
Baier was a good sign all night for the Tigers.
The senior, who had carried the ball 18 times for 72 yards and no touchdowns entering, carried it 39 times for 255 yards and four rushing touchdowns against West Central Valley. He also hauled in five passes for 74 yards. Defensively, from his safety spot, Baier led the way with 11 tackles and an interception.
In all, the Tigers outgained the Wildcats 379 to 253.
“We played great on defense with Adam leading us in tackle and then Brody Bond has a huge game at the other safety spot, coming down and filling,” Nordeen said. “I feel like our younger guys and those guys that are back out for the first time since junior high are starting to figure it out. Our football IQ is elevating so that’s huge for our defense as we fix mistakes and learn to shut people down.”
Bond added 8.5 tackles and Dylan Rydberg recovered a fumble and recorded a solo tackle.
The win is the Tigers’ first of the season, but Nordeen can see confidence and momentum building. They host Treynor (2-1) Friday at Russ Benda Field.
“What the kids do today, and this week, will determine how the season goes,” he said. “It’s district play so it’s a whole new season to us. Treynor is a heck of a team coming in so where we go from here if we want to be content with one win or go out and see where this can take us.”