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Homecoming takes on added importance for the St. Edmond football team here this Friday night inside Dodger Stadium vs. Remsen St. Mary's.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
This will mark the last time the Gaels (2-1 overall, 1-0 in the district) are on their own turf until the final week of the regular season, which is not until Oct. 16 vs. Kingsley-Pierson. St. Edmond will play road games at Bishop Garrigan, GTRA and Harris-Lake Park around a bye, which surfaced due to Siouxland Christian merging with Remsen St. Mary's.
"It's a really weird year with our schedule," SEHS head coach Matt Dillon said. "But the kids are ready to go and excited for the challenge.
"(Remsen St. Mary's) will be the best team we've played this year, so we just have to play hard and give ourselves a chance to win it in the fourth."
Junior Thomas Ehn ranks first in the state with 13 passing touchdowns, completing 54 percent of his passes for 656 yards with two more scores on the ground. Senior Ty Mericle has 16 receptions for 245 and five touchdowns, with classmate Griffin Laufersweiler recording 13 receptions for 130 and two scores.
Sophomore Blake Bartlett has 105 yards and three touchdowns on just five receptions, and junior Matthew Crimmins leads the ground attack with 312 yards. Bartlett joins Coltin Fevold on the sidelines, though, after suffering an injury last week.
"Blake is probably out two to three weeks," Dillon said of Bartlett. "It's that next-man-in approach that we have to have.
"We don't have a lot of depth as it is, so somebody is going to have to step up and make plays."
Anchoring the Gael defense is senior Jacob Nieland, who leads the way with 20 tackles. Bartlett, freshman Gavin McClain and Crimmins all have double-digit tackle totals.
The Hawks (2-1, 1-0) know what road games are like, as they will play them for the rest of the season after forfeiting games last year – including the second half vs. St. Edmond.
RSM opened with a 69-8 victory vs. Ar-We-Va, then fell to Audubon, 74-30. The 2024 eight-player state champion rebounded in district play with a 67-28 victory over GTRA last week.
Dalton Klein threw for 211 yards and three touchdowns while running for 145 and five scores to lead the way. On the year, Klein – a junior – has completed 21 of 42 for 397 yards and seven TDs, rushing for 330 yards and eight scores on 39 attempts.
Beau Johnson is his top target, catching eight passes for 145 and four touchdowns. Dayton Kneip has seven receptions for 123 and a score, with Tyten Waldschmitt rushing for 218 and a TD.
"All of those juniors were there as freshmen when they won a state title," Dillon said. "And they were there last year when they had to forfeit games. I'm sure they are anxious to get out there and play us again."