-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Jackson Bemrich of St. Edmond tackles IKM-Manning Amos Rasmussen on Friday

SIOUX RAPIDS — The St. Edmond football team will try to right the ship here Friday night with the first of back-to-back road games.

The Gaels take on Sioux Central in a Class A, District 2 contest. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

After falling to fourth-ranked (A) Bishop Garrigan two weeks ago, St. Edmond (2-2 overall, 0-1 in district) were stopped at home vs. IKM-Manning last Friday, 41-8.

Since earning wins over North Union (18-12) and Eagle Grove (60-16), the Gaels have been outscored by Garrigan and IKM, 93-8. They have rushed for just 162 yards in the last four quarters of action.

“It is what it is, but I have to give our kids credit because they continue to come to practice each and every day trying to get better,” SEHS head coach Matt Dillon said. “They are working on the things they need to improve upon and hopefully that will show up in a game. I’d really like to see their hard work get rewarded on the field.”

Leading the way on offensive for St. Edmond are senior Sean Newell and sophomore Sean Flattery. Newell has 453 yards and five touchdowns this year, with Flattery adding 400 and five scores.

Peyton Spangler has rushed for 201 yards and Kase Baker 154. Elijah Litwiller connected with Drew Schaeffer three times last week for 66 yards, as the two have hooked up six times this year for 104 yards.

Newell and Flattery are also the leading tacklers with 51.5 and 41 stops each. Schaeffer has 38 tackles, Jackson Bemrich has 36.5 and Spangler 33.5. The unit has forced 13 turnovers this year, including eight fumbles.

“This is going to be a very tough task for us,” Dillon said. “Sioux Central doesn’t do a whole lot, but what they do, they do it very, very well. They are big, physical and like to come right at you. We have to find a way to buck up on both sides of the ball and make some plays.”

The Rebels (4-1, 1-0) opened district play on the road last week with a 20-6 victory over Ridge View. Blake Cavanaugh ran for 144 yards on 16 carries, scoring three touchdowns, with Ben Hargens adding 102 yards on 25 totes.

Jake Hanson attempted just two passes, completing one for 22 yards to Prestan Samson and another to Cavanaugh for five.

Cavanaugh has been the big-play back this year, posting 417 yards and four scores, with a 6.1 average per carry. Hargens has 326 yards and four scores, Jayden Harder has rushed for 268 and Hanson 199, as Sioux Central sits first in the district with 1,219 yards as a team.

“We are facing another tough, tough opponent,” Dillon said. “They will line up quickly and come right at you. There isn’t anything fancy to what Sioux Central does, they just execute it very, very well.”

Hargens has rushed for 2,133 yards and scored 21 times in his career. He racked up 174 yards and three touchdowns in a 50-6 win over St. Edmond last year.

Hanson is 16-for-30 passing for 223 yards with three scores and two picks. Samson anchors the defense with 62.5 tackles, including 43 solo stops. Sioux Central has forced nine turnovers, including six fumble recoveries.

The Rebels went 7-3 a year ago, falling to eventual state champion West Sioux in the opening round of the playoffs, 63-6. They are 10-2 over their last 12 games dating back to last season, including five consecutive home wins.