GMG sophomore Jacoby Woodbury (19) leaps for the pass while in Clarksville’s endzone during the first quarter of last Friday’s District 6 clash in Garwin. The ball ultimately slipped from his grasp as he was tackled by Clarksville’s Camden Behrends (12). PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

GARWIN — The GMG football team scored its first two touchdowns of the season but ultimately fell 76-12 at the hands of the bigger, deeper Clarksville in last Friday’s 8-player District 6 clash.

Clarksville led 22-0 after the opening quarter before the scoreboard began to turn in the Wolverines’ favor. Less than 15 seconds into the second period, GMG junior quarterback Ethan Klemesrud carried the ball for a first down. On the very next play, he again kept the ball, running for a 13-yard touchdown. With the conversion no good, the score stood at 22-6.

Immediately upon taking possession, junior running back Nathan Moon blazed a 60-yard trail across the field for another Clarksville touchdown. A few plays later, Clarksville managed an interception to retake possession on the Wolverine’s 32-yard line; a few plays later Clarksville ran in another touchdown. With the conversion good, the Indians surged ahead 36-6 with roughly half the second period remaining.

With the clock ticking, GMG sophomore Easton Sash picked up a short toss before running 15 yards to Clarksville’s 21-yard line for a first down. A couple plays later, Klemesrud rushed for the endzone but was brought down hard at the 1-yard line. Officials immediately called an injury timeout and Klemesrud left the field leaving Sash to take over as signal caller. On the next play, Sash ran two yards for GMG’s second touchdown. Clarksville led 36-12 at the half.

Following a rousing GMG dance team performance and pep band set under the nearly-full moon at halftime, the Wolverines retook the field but were unable to get anything going the rest of the night. Clarksville tacked on 40 unanswered points in the second half.

Quarterback Ethan Klemesrud evades the defense to dive into the endzone for GMG’s first touchdown against the Clarksville Indians last Friday evening in Garwin, marking the Wolverines’ first points of the 2025-26 season. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“Clarksville played [the] great game I expected them to play,” GMG first-year head coach Justin Witte told the newspaper in an email following the game. “Their run game was very good, especially with the big line they had. Nothing but respect for the way they ran the ball.”

Leading up to the District 6 matchup, Witte said his players had a “great practice week.”

“We expected to take away their running lanes and take away any big plays such as the ‘bend but don’t break’ phrase. We knew what we were up against when we were going to play Clarksville.”

Before his injury Friday night, Klemesrud was 17-for-34, passing for 232 yards with three interceptions. He led the Wolverines with nine carries for 75 yards and a touchdown.

“Ethan came off the sideline with a hurt shoulder and was not able to go back in the game, unfortunately,” Witte explained. “He played a great game and is going to become a great player for us this season both running and passing for our offense.”

GMG quarterback Ethan Klemesrud injures his shoulder Friday night against Clarksville. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

For his part, Sash added nine totes for 21 yards and a score.

“Easton Sash is a great player in the way he can come in and contribute at any position – that is rare,” Witte added. “Along with Easton we have Jacoby Woodbury who is another great athlete that can come and contribute at any position.”

Sophomore Bodie Hutchinson led the Wolverine receivers with six catches for 96 yards, while sophomore Woodbury had four grabs for 65 yards, and Sash had five catches for 62 yards.

Junior Caleb Ferch led GMG’s defense with 8.5 tackles, Sash had seven stops, and senior Jay Bessman made 6.5 tackles.

The Clarksville signal caller, Nathan Moon, rushed 12 times for 294 yards and seven touchdowns as the team piled up 406 yards and eight scores on the ground. Moon’s only pass attempt was intercepted by Jacob Snider. Clarksville improved to 1-1 with the win, while the Wolverines dropped to 0-2.

GMG junior quarterback Ethan Klemesrud (2) hands off the ball to sophomore Easton Sash (10) early in the game against the Clarksville Indians on Friday, Sept. 5, in Garwin. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“We as a team are a young team just starting to create a foundation and the Clarksville game was a learning experience for us,” Witte said, rounding out his comments.

Tonight, Friday, Sept. 12, GMG (0-2) hosts non-district Central City (0-2). The Wildcats suffered shutouts in both Week 1 and Week 2, losing 49-0 to WACO and 66-0 to Elkader.

Next week Friday, Sept. 19, GMG is on the road for a district matchup with Gladbrook-Reinbeck (2-0). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at The Pit in Gladbrook. It is Homecoming week for the Rebels.

After taking the handoff, Wolverine sophomore Easton Sash (10) looks for an opening through the Clarksville defense on Friday, Sept. 5, in Garwin. Sash racked up nine carries for 21 yards and a touchdown against the Indians. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Wolverine quarterback Ethan Klemesrud scans for an open receiver during the first period of the Friday, Sept. 5 District 6 clash with Clarksville in Garwin. Klemesrud went 17-for-34 against the Indians, passing for 232 yards with three interceptions. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

GMG sophomore Easton Sash (10) runs with the ball on Friday, Sept. 5, in Garwin during the second period of the Wolverines District 6 clash with Clarksville. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Members of the GMG High School cheer team perform on the sidelines during the first half of the Friday, Sept. 5 football game in Garwin. The team is coached by Karen Gale-Hazen. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER