Onaga holds on to win a thriller over Doniphan West 24-20

It was a classic game to kick off the 2026 season, between two teams from the Twin Valley League. Back and forth and close all throughout, but it was the visitors, the Onaga Buffaloes holding off the Doniphan West Mustangs 24-20. 

After one quarter, the Mustangs led it 6-0, after a 9-play 73 yard TD drive, that was capped off with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Braylon Shelton to Trace Caudle. 

But the Buffaloes would immediately respond in the second quarter, a 16-play, nearly 8-minute drive tied the game at 6 after a 1-yard touchdown plunge from Ryder Kolterman. The Buffaloes forced a quick three and out, and went down and scored again, this time from 3 yards out, with Luke Poell getting in the endzone to make it 12-6, that would be our halftime score. 

Out of the half, Doniphan West got a defensive stop, and put together a 17-play touchdown drive, going 80 yards, with a couple crucial 4th down conversions. Shelton would hit Ketcher Peterson for a 3-yard touchdown to tie the game at 12 through three quarters. 

In the fourth quarter, things got crazy, Onaga fumbled the ball, but on the next play got the ball right back on a Brett Kaberline interception. 

Onaga utilized the big play on their go-ahead drive, with a 40 yard-run from Kolterman, he then hit Cameron Kramer for a 36-yard touchdown pass to put the Buffaloes up 18-12. After a stop defensively, Luke Poell broke a big run, setting up a short touchdown run, his 2nd on the night. 24-12 Onaga with about 3 minutes left. 

On 3rd and 10, from their own 13, Shelton found Breckan Falk for an 87-yard touchdown, making it 24-20 after converting the 2-pt conversion. Onaga recovered the onside kick, but had to punt. 

On said punt, the ball was fumbled and Kramer fell on it, securing the 24-20 win for Onaga. 

The Buffaloes start 1-0 (1-0) in the David Hill era. They travel to Whitewater-Remington next week. Doniphan West 0-1 (0-1) drops a tough one, they hit the road next week, taking on Valley Heights. 

Ryder Kolterman was the Farmers State Bank player of the game, totaling 233 yards of offense and 2 touchdowns. Luke Poell gets an honorable mention for rushing for 121 yards and 2 TDs.