Assistant coach Brice Girkin looks on as Redhawk quarterback Kolt Knaack (4) warms up with his team on Dennis Field in Traer ahead of the Friday, Oct. 4, game with North Butler. North Tama defensive coordinator Tom McDermott — who was an assistant coach for the Redhawks during the team’s 2010 state championship win over Madrid — paces the sideline in the background. The Redhawks will play the Madrid Tigers tonight in a Class A first-round playoff game — the first time the two teams have faced one another since that 2010 title game. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TRAER – North Tama football has not faced Madrid since 2010 when the Redhawks wrote themselves into the history books by beating the Tigers, 43-34 for the Class A state championship – the district’s first and still only state football title. This Friday night, after taking fourth in Class A District 3, the Redhawks will take on the Tigers – 2024 district champs and last season’s state semifinalists – once again in the first round of the postseason playoffs.

“Anytime you face a district champ it is going to be an uphill battle,” Redhawks head coach Andrew Knaack told the paper earlier this week. “But we have beaten a district champ [Wapsie Valley] already this year so, I know and believe we can do it.”

North Tama has played Madrid three times in school history – beating the Tigers handily every time – including in 2010 for the state championship during which Madrid was ranked No. 1 to North Tama’s No. 3, as well as in 2001 and 2000.

During the 2010 championship game, Madrid’s current head coach, Brock Hinkel, was a starting senior for the Tigers, according to North Tama defensive coordinator Tom McDermott who was an assistant coach for the Redhawks back in 2010.

This season Madrid (6-2) has more than lived up to its storied football history, outscoring opponents by a combined 201 points and – in the words of Times-Republican assistant sports editor Jake Ryder – drubbing opposing teams by running the ball five times for every pass they throw. The pairing could be particularly gritty for the Redhawks as their defense has excelled this season at picking off passes and then running hell for leather back downfield for the touchdown.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

But Coach Knaack has confidence in his team despite what any naysayers might jibber-jabber.

“We have been undersized all year [but] play and compete beyond our size. Madrid runs the ball, everyone we played this year has run the ball. We have to do our job and make tackles on first contact. The last couple of weeks we have struggled with tackling. We will make a point to realize they are going to run the ball and be ready for the possibility of a pass.”

“We are not the most intimidating team when we get off the bus. But, we will play hard and we are an explosive team. We just have to believe and have confidence that we are a good team.”

Win or lose this Friday in Madrid, Coach Knaack has felt the poignancy of this season throughout the fall as it is the last time he will coach his son, starting quarterback Kolt Knaack who is a senior.

“It has been a fun ride these last two years coaching my own son as head coach. It will be bittersweet when his last game will be played. He is a competitor and team player. … I know that it will be tough with me and Kolt as father and son. Next fall when the season starts back will be different.”

Coach Knaack then pivoted and said as head coach, watching seniors – any seniors, related or not – play their final moments on the high school gridiron is never easy.

“I feel close to all these seniors like family. I have been coaching all these young men since they all put pads on in third grade. A few of them I even coached before that in flag football. I have seen them all grow and turn into team players and leaders. They will be missed and remembered. We just don’t want this Friday to be the last one.”

North Tama takes on Madrid tonight, Friday, Oct. 25, in the Class A postseason first round. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Madrid High School.