By: Matt Scher, matts@977thebolt.com
Humboldt, IA – The Battle of HWY 169 trophy was on the line between RPI No. 1 (3A) Algona Bulldogs and No. 2 (3A) Humboldt Wildcats, with the Wildcats winning a 21-20 thriller against the Bulldogs in the 108th meeting between the two schools Friday night at Mason Maach Field.
The Bulldogs would strike first on the first play of their opening drive as senior quarterback and future Iowa State Cyclone Alex Manske found Evan Allie for an 80-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead with 11:49 in the first quarter. The Wildcats would battle back on the next drive that was capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Coen Matson to tie the game at 7-7. Humboldt would take their first lead of the game late in the first half on another drive that was capped off by a Matson 1-yard rushing touchdown to put the Wildcats up 14-7. The Bulldogs would quickly move the ball down the field and find the end zone on a 27-yard pass from Manske to Tate Slagle with nine seconds left before halftime to tie the game at 14.
The second half would see Humboldt take the lead for good with a Cash McIntire 27-yard touchdown run with 9:45 left in the fourth quarter. Algona would drive down the field and score on a 12-yard pass from sophomore backup quarterback Nathan Manske, who relieved his older brother Alex after he exited the game with an injury, to Evan Allie to bring Algona within one point 21-20 of Humboldt with 55 seconds remaining in the game. Algona would attempt a two-point conversion on a double reverse that gave Slagle the ball and his pass over the middle would be intercepted by Zane McIntire in the end zone to preserve the Humboldt lead. Algona would attempt an onside kick, but Humboldt would recover the kick to seal the victory.
With the win, Humboldt improves to 6-1 (3-0 3A-2) and Algona falls to 6-1 (2-1 3A-2). The win was the first since 2022 for Humboldt over Algona, with the Bulldogs now leading the series 54-51-3 and the series tied at one since the trophy was debuted in the rivalry last year.
Humboldt heads to Clear Lake next week for the 85th meeting all-time and with a win would clinch the district title. Kickoff at Lions Field on October 18 at 7:00 p.m. Coverage will start on KHBT at 6:25 p.m.