Photo by Julie Vinsand, The Gowrie News: Eli Johnson of Southeast Valley makes a catch against O-A/BC-IG in Gowrie last week.

ESTHERVILLE — It’s only Week 5 of the prep football season, but Mike Swieter knows every Friday is going to continue to be a test for second-ranked Southeast Valley.

The Jaguars (4-0 overall, 1-0 Class 2A, District 2) cleared a huge hurdle last week, knocking off two-time defending state champion and formerly top-ranked OABCIG (3-1, 0-1). The loss was the first in 28 games for the Falcons.

“It’s a crazy district; we’re all are trying to get healed up as we go right back at it,” Swieter said. “We were focused on OABCIG, but it doesn’t get any easier. This district is wide-open.”

Friday’s prep action brings a new challenge for the Jaguars, who take on third-ranked Estherville-Lincoln Central (3-1, 1-0). After the EL-C contest, the Jaguars will square off with previously rated Clarion-Goldfield Dows (3-1, 0-1), No. 7 Pocahontas Area (3-1, 0-1) and top-ranked Spirit Lake (4-0, 1-0).

“Both Estherville and Spirit Lake have tremendous team speed,” Swieter said. “And they’re deeper from top to bottom. Bigger schools.”

After a 22-22 first-half tie, the Jaguars made some halftime adjustments and outscored the Falcons 21-0 in the fourth quarter to pull away.

“We got some things figured out,” Swieter said. “Coach (Mark) Graves (defensive coordinator) made some nice moves defensively and forced some three-and-outs.”

Senior Lathe Muench was a man on a mission in the second half, carrying the ball 37 times for 168 yards in all. Muench scored twice, including a game breaking 42-yard scamper late.

Classmate Kolson Kruse threw for 75 yards and tossed TDs to Eli Johnson (nine yards) and Colton Brant (40).

“I don’t even think my kids know what they’ve accomplished (since the start of 2020),” Swieter said. “We’ve only lost one game in the last year and a half.

“We weren’t scared of them (OABCIG). I guarantee there were 28 (previous programs) that were happy to see us beat them.”

On the season, Kruse has thrown for 676 yards and seven touchdowns. He has rushed for 335 yards and five scores.

Muench has 366 yards and eight TDs rushing.

Johnson (353 yards) and Brant (183) have three touchdowns each on the season.

E-LC’s only loss of the season was to fourth-rated (Class 3A) Humboldt (4-0). The Midgets handed 10th-ranked Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (3-1, 0-1) its first loss of the season last Friday, 52-21.

In that contest, Midget quarterback Ryan Schiltz threw for 271 yards and three scores. E-LC also ran for four TDs.

“Estherville returns a tremendous amount of kids from a two-loss team,” Swieter said. “They have great experience and a lot of skill players who are very talented.”

On the season, Schiltz has thrown for 780 yards and 12 TDs. He has a 63-percent completion percentage. Owen Larson (253 yards) has five scores on 17 catches.

On the ground, Schiltz has 244 yards and three scores, while Zavion McMurian has 205 yards and four touchdowns.

Clarion-Goldfield/Dows (3-1, 0-1) at No. 7 Pocahontas Area (3-1, 0-1)

Both the Cowboys and Indians suffered their first losses of the season in Week 4, which came at the hands of the fourth- and second-ranked teams in 2A.

The Cowboys fell 52-21 to the Midgets, while the Indians lost 52-9 to Spirit Lake.

Against E-LC, Preston Gardner threw for 173 yards and had touchdown passes to Jaxon Carpenter (24 yards) and Coady Olson (36). Olson had 129 yards receiving.

Garrett Seba also hit paydirt.

On the season, Preston has 305 yards passing and three scores, while running for 413 yards and six TDs. Nevan Foss has three rushing touchdowns.

Pocahontas Area has rushed for 773 yards on the year so far. Quarterback Chase Boysen has 326 yards and three scores.

Ruger Bunda has rushed for two TDs.

Eagle Grove (1-3, 0-1) at South Central Calhoun (3-1, 1-0)

After losing to No. 5 Pocahontas Area, South Central Calhoun has bounced back to earn two straight victories.

They opened district play with a 30-22 win over Manson Northwest Webster. The Titans entertain Eagle Grove for Homecoming.

Against the Cougars, Blake McAlister ran for 122 yards and a touchdown. Kevin King added a TD run, and Zach Trott reached the end zone twice.

On the season, McAlister has 375 yards and four TDs. The Titans have 978 yards rushing and six different runners have reached the end zone.

Quarterback Gavin Batta has 309 yards passing and four scores.

Eagle Grove has dropped two straight after ending a long losing streak with a triumph over MVAOCOU.

Jake Jeske (227 yards), Roberto Calles (202) and Blake Morgan (131) are the Eagles’ leading rushers. Tate Richardson has rushed for three touchdowns for EGHS.

Manson Northwest Webster (1-3, 0-1) at Belmond-Klemme (0-4, 0-1)

After beating Okoboji 30-28 in Week 3, the Cougars played a tight 30-22 contest with South Central Calhoun. Now the Cougars will travel to face the Broncos, who are looking for their first win.

Against the Titans, Tate Bianchi rushed for 125 yards. Brody Anderson had two touchdowns and Shawn Kenyon threw a scoring strike to Jaydin Anderson.

Kenyon has thrown for 754 yards and six touchdowns. Bianchi has 603 yards on the ground and five TDs, while Anderson has three rushing scores.

The Broncos, who lost to South Hamilton last week by a final of 38-7, are led by Tate Sander. The senior has rushed for 436 yards and two touchdowns, including a long of 69.

Clayton Pletsch has two rushing TDs.

Other area games: No. 8 Greene County (3-1, 1-0) at Clarinda (1-3, 0-1); Ballard (2-2, 0-0) at No. 4 Humboldt (4-0, 0-0); North Polk (2-2, 0-0) at Algona (3-1, 0-0); Sibley-Ocheyedan (0-4, 0-1) at Emmetsburg (0-4, 0-1); Treynor (3-1, 1-0) at East Sac County (0-4, 0-1); North Union (2-2, 1-2) at Lake Mills (1-3, 0-1); Kingsley-Pierson (1-3, 1-1) at No. 5 Newell-Fonda (4-0, 1-0); Bishop Garrigan (3-1, 2-0) at Harris-Lake Park (2-2, 1-1); GTRA (4-0, 2-0) at West Bend-Mallard (1-3, 1-2).