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The Nowata Ironmen broke a four-game losing skid Friday night in a wild senior night ballgame against the Salina Wildcats as they won, 20-16. It was a defensive battle in Nowata as there were six combined turnovers between the two. Nowata though, the beneficiary of four of the six turnovers as they picked off three passes and recovered a fumble.

This game would come down to the fourth quarter as Salina had the football under three minutes, trailing 20-16 and driving down the field. Senior Bear Savala stepped up in his last home game for the Ironmen with a huge interception to seal the game for Nowata.

This game went back and forth early, with Nowata trailing at the half 8-6 after Salina took the lead in the second quarter. All of Nowata’s turnovers came in the first half as Treavor Emberson threw two interceptions in the red zone, but the Ironmen defense forced three first half turnovers of their own.

The second half started with the Ironmen forcing a turnover on downs and following that up with the second of Peyton Trotter’s three touchdown runs to take a 14-8 lead. Salina would answer though and retake the lead at 16-14. Nowata responded by taking the following kick back to the Salina 16-yreard line to set up this score by Trotter to take the lead at 20-16.

The Nowata defense played lights out last night as they allowed just two touchdowns and forced four turnovers combined with three forced turnover on downs. That was good enough for that entire side of the ball to earn Patriot Player of the Game honors.

Nowata now moves to 4-5 and 2-3 in district play which already doubles their win total from last season with one game left on the schedule at Adair.