Waterloo’s Scott Nanney runs the ball in overtime on Friday night. He would later score the winning touchdown. (John Spytek photo)

The Waterloo High School football team pulled off an exciting overtime win at home over Jerseyville on Friday night, 34-28.

Just up the road in Columbia, the Eagles wasted no time in a 51-6 trouncing of Freeburg. Columbia (6-0) scored all of their points in the first half en route to the lopsided victory.

The Waterloo faithful was amped up for the team’s homecoming game against Mississippi Valley Conference foe Jerseyville.

Following a four-yard touchdown run by Jerseyville quarterback Drew Sauerwein, the Bulldogs answered with a nine-yard TD run by Kyle Knefelkamp. The Waterloo defense forced Jerseyville to punt from its own endzone, which resulted in a safety to put the ‘Dogs up 8-7.

The Panthers scored on long plays of 62, 57 and 34 yards to finish their first half scoring.

Knefelkamp scored on a 53-yard TD run and Austin Patton caught a 13-yard touchdown following a Waterloo fumble recovery, but the Bulldogs trailed 28-22 at halftime.

Waterloo’s defense shut down Jerseyville in the second half, keeping the Panthers off the scoreboard. Scott Nanney tied the game with a three-yard rushing score early in the fourth quarter.

With the two teams still tied at the end of regulation, the game went into overtime. Nanney eventually sent the crowd home happy with a two-yard TD score. He finished with 116 yards rushing on the night.

Knefelkamp finished with 109 yards rushing and 49 yards receiving. Waterloo quarterback Ross Schrader went 11-for-20 passing for 100 yards and a TD. The Bulldogs improved to 4-2 on the season.

“That was a crazy game,” Waterloo head coach Dan Rose said afterward. “(Jerseyville) came here and played their tails off and we’re pretty lucky to get out of here with a win. You don’t want to play overtime games, but when you play them and win, they’re fun.”

Colton Byrd ran for scores of 30 and 14 yards in a 51-6 blowout of Freeburg on Friday night.

In Columbia, the Eagles scored at will in a 51-point first half against Freeburg.

Colton Byrd rushed for 119 yards and TD scores of 30 and 14 yards. Jordan Holmes scored on TD receptions of 55 and 40 yards. Quarterback Greg Long went 11-of-12 passing for 155 yards and four TD passes, two of them to Jared Germain.

On defense, Jarrett Allscheid picked up two quarterback sacks for the Eagles.

In other local football action, Red Bud dropped a 42-33 contest at home to Breese Central in a battle of unbeatens. Ryan Hess had 126 yards rushing, including a 79-yard TD run. Alex Birchler added 166 yards receiving.