EMMETSBURG — On paper it was an upset, but for Manson Northwest Webster, the gameplan worked to perfection.

The Cougars (4-2 overall, 3-0 in the district) won their eighth consecutive district game dating back to last season, knocking off seventh-ranked Emmetsburg (4-2, 2-1), 36-22, to stand alone atop the league standings.

“They are pretty traditional in what they run,” said MNW head coach Zach Noffsinger. “They stack the box tight, and we thought if we could get through their initial push, we could do some things with our deception.”

The Cougars also had a chip on their shoulder as underdogs.

“I felt we were ready to go and we were in a good spot,” Noffisinger said. “Some of our kids saw something online that we were 35-point underdogs, and that put a chip on our shoulders.

“We wanted to prove that last year was no fluke.”

Manson Northwest Webster had four touchdown plays of 50-plus yards, as the two teams fought to a 14-14 halftime score.

It was a scoring bonanza in the fourth quarter after a scoreless third, with the two teams combining for 30 points.

Tegan Thoma scored on a 62-yard run in the first half for the Cougars. Isaiah Daggett hit Jack Hoeppner on a 72-yard touchdown strike with 30 seconds left in the half – the second 60-plus score for Hoeppner on the season.

Mason Anderson broke the tie in the fourth with an 83-yard jaunt.

The touchdown was set up by a huge Cougar defensive stand, holding the E-Hawks out of the end zone after a nine-minute drive.

“That drive was huge,” Noffsinger said. “We got the ball to start the half and then we had a huge goal-line stand.

“We felt at that point we could control things.”

Coy Moline then found Hoeppner from 50 yards out to take a 29-22 lead. Moline put the icing on the victory with a 10-yard trip to paydirt.

Hoeppner had two catches, two touchdowns and 122 yards receiving.

Moline had 16 carries for 70 yards. Anderson ran the ball three times for 103 yards.

Hoeppner sealed the victory with an interception. Thomas also had a pick.