RUTHVEN — The road doesn’t get much easier for the St. Edmond football team this week.

After suffering a second consecutive loss at Audubon last Friday, the Gaels remain away from home as they take on former district rival GTRA here Friday night for Homecoming.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Despite a slow start, St. Edmond (2-2 overall) was able to mount a rally versus the Wheelers before ultimately falling, 66-48. The week prior, they were handed a 36-34 setback to Baxter.

This is the last non-district game of the season for the Gaels, who finally return to Dodger Stadium next Friday for their own Homecoming versus Coon Rapids-Bayard. They close the year at Colo-Nesco and against Glidden-Ralston.

“We’ve had a tremendous week of practice,” SEHS head coach Matt Dillon said. “Some of the best days we’ve ever had in the six years I’ve been here. The focus and concentration has been terrific.

“I expect us to play a great game.”

JT Laufersweiler continues to have a strong senior season, throwing for 1,018 yards and 15 scores while rushing for 270 and four more TDs. He might be counted on for even more with the loss of junior Klay Baker, who is out for the rest of the year with a collarbone injury.

Grant Galles is coming off his biggest game to date, catching six passes for 190 and five scores. The sophomore has 13 receptions for 393 with seven touchdowns on the year.

Sam Myer stepped in for Baker and enters this week with 100 yards rushing, while sophomore Kinnick Henning has 136 and a TD. Leo Ehn, the only other senior on the squad with Laufersweiler, has caught 10 passes for 267 with a pair of touchdowns.

“Sam has always been right there competing for carries with Klay…we’ve just kept him on defense to limit his plays and keep him rested,” Dillon said. “Now he’s back to being a two-way player, but I do not expect any drop in production.”

The Gaels are averaging over 46 points per game 450 yards of total offense.

GTRA (3-1) was in the AP Top-10 before a stunning 58-18 loss to West Bend-Mallard last week. They had reeled off wins over Rockford (72-6), Northwood-Kensett (44-12) and Siouxland Christian (48-8).

They allowed over 300 yards rushing and were held to just six on 15 carries vs. the Wolverines. Kasey Hough, a junior, did complete 18 of 30 for 173 yards, with TDs to Braden Simington and Landen Dietrich.

Hough is 52 of 71 on the year for 811 yards with 10 scores, adding 137 yards and five more touchdowns with his legs. Isaac Murphy has over 500 yards of total offense and 11 TDs while leading the team in both rushing and receiving.

“West Bend-Mallard came out and ran the ball right at GTRA,” Dillon said. “I would expect them to be ready to go and we have to match that right from the snap.

“They have some good athletes. We’ll be tested on both sides of the ball.”

In the two previous meetings, GTRA won 62-0 and 64-13 behind all-state quarterback Max Hough.