The Ipswich Tigers were gassed on defense, before Shay Knust stepped on the gas to propel the Tigers to a win during the Lake Region Conference Classic on Friday afternoon.

Knust scored a crucial touchdowns as Ipswich was able to hold off North Central for a 26-12 football win at Dacotah Bank Stadium.

After the Thunder had sliced a 20-point deficit down to 20-12 in the fourth quarter, Knust hauled in a pass and sprinted 59 yards for a momentum-changing touchdown.

“That was a big play for us. We got gassed. I think defensively at one point we probably had four guys out that we consider to be our starters,” said Ipswich coach Brian Hogie. “A couple of them with cramps, a couple of them got rolled up on with their ankles and their legs. We had some guys really show up and played well for us today that haven’t played a lot before.”

Knust, who scored the game’s first touchdown, caught a pass from Hayden Schlosser about midfield, and then raced to the end zone to help Ipswich cement the victory.

“At that point I felt like we almost had no momentum. I knew they were almost going to be doubling me and I knew the route I was going to run ahead,” Knust said.

The junior was able to gain separation and there would be no catching him after he caught the ball.

“I turned around and it was open,” Knust said, “and I caught the ball and went back to midfield, made a cut, and I was gone.”

When the speedy playmaker gets out in space, it can be difficult to reel him in.

“When Shay gets in the open field, all bets are off,” said North Central coach Kevin Kunz. “It doesn’t matter if you’ve got the best scheme in the world, he can make people miss. He’s big, strong. He’s a good football player.”

And on this occasion, Knust change the complexion of the contest in one big play.

“We just got done telling our kids, appreciate the effort in the second half, because it would have been easy to be, the way the first half ended, the way some of the bounces went there, to just roll over and completely just be done,” Kunz said. “And we gave them all they could handle there. One play just makes a difference. You have the momentum, and then all of a sudden you don’t.”

The Thunder were able to regroup after a tough first half and get back in the game. The comeback included a Kobe Wherry short TD, and Reuben Blanco’s first touchdown reception that made it a one-possession game.

“That felt amazing,” Blanco said, “first ever touchdown.”

The Thunder have now dropped three games to start the season and they were in every one of them.

“I think our team just needs to finish. We’re a wonderful team,” Blanco said. “We just need to come together more often, just finish the play.”

The Thunder are motivated to get that initial win this season.

“I think we just bring the heat next time,” Blanco said. “We’re coming for that win.”

The 1 p.m. kickoff forced the players to compete in the heat of the day, which took a toll on many players who went down with cramps throughout the game.

“It’s 20-degrees warmer on the turf,” Knust said. “It was hot out. … That was rough. It was worth it.”

The conditions allowed more Tigers to get on the field and they responded in a big way.

“Shay’s touchdown which was a great play by Shay, Seth DeRaad, a sophomore receiver blocking all the way down the field that springs him down there. Luke Rausch, a junior who hasn’t played before, first year out, forces a fumble in the first half for us, and makes a couple big plays for us,” Hogie said. “He’s hardly been on the field. He got thrown out there today because of what happened out there. Young guys making big plays is what makes a difference and allows us to win a ballgame today probably.”

And that allowed the Tigers to improve to 2-0 on the young season.

“Any time we get a conference win in the LRC, it’s a good day,” Hogie said.

Ipswich (2-0) 0 14 6 6 – 26

North Central (0-3) 0 0 0 12 – 12

I – Shay Knust 20 run.

I – Jace Stiles 37 pass from Hayden Schlosser (Schlosser run).

I – Schlosser 2 run.

NC – Kobe Wherry 2 run.

NC – Reuben Blanco 5 pass from Judah Farger.

I – Knust 59 pass from Schlosser.

OFFENSE: Ipswich rushing 34-127 (Knust 10-116, Schlosser 7-31, Stetson Weigel 10-28), passing 4-8 for 132 (Schlosser 4-8 for 132), receiving (Knust 1-59, Lane Braun 2-37, Stiles 1-37), first downs 13; North Central rushing 28-48 (Carl Lucban 8-35, K. Wherry 6-10, Jared Wherry 8-10), passing 19-25-2 for 239 (K. Wherry 14-17-2 for 162, Farger 6-7-0 for 77), receiving (J. Wherry 7-93, Aiden Goings 6-73, K. Wherry 2-39, Blanco 5-34), 14.

DEFENSE: Ipswich, Knust 8.5 tackles and 1 Int., Weigel 7 tackles, Braun 6.5 tackles and 1 Int.; North Central, Blanco 9 tackles, Isaiah Heilman 8 tackles, Michael Opp 5 tackles, K. Wherry 5 tackles.