Trending
NEWELL – For the first time this season, the St. Edmond football team hits the road as the Gaels take on Newell-Fonda here Friday night.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in this eight-player, District 1 opener.
St. Edmond (1-1 overall) got in the win column last week, besting Glidden-Ralston, 50-32. Thomas Ehn threw seven passing touchdowns, while Matthew Crimmins ran for 204 yards.
The offensive balance was a stark contrast to a Week 0 setback to West Bend-Mallard, showing SEHS head coach Matt Dillon the kind of improvement he was hoping for.
"We did a great job controlling the line of scrimmage," Dillon said. "It all started there. When you can win the battle in the trenches, you give yourself a great chance to win the game."
In two games this season, Ehn, a junior first-year starter, has thrown nine touchdowns and ran in another. He has 417 yards in the air, while senior Ty Mericle has 11 receptions for 164 yards and four touchdowns.
Four different players caught TDs from Ehn vs. Glidden-Ralston, and five have caught a touchdown this year from the gunslinger.
Crimmins leads with 223 yards rushing, averaging six yards per carry.
"We've just got to eliminate the turnovers," Dillon said. "That's one of the biggest things we have stressed in practice this past week."
Defensively, freshman Gavin McClain, who replaced Coltin Fevold in the lineup after Fevold suffered a season-ending injury in the contest with West Bend-Mallard, tallied 13 tackles. Sophomore Blake Bartlett had 11.5 with senior Jacob Nieland recording 10.
The Gaels had five sacks, including three from Bartlett and two by junior Jack Webster.
Newell-Fonda (0-1) dropped a 66-7 decision to North Union in its opener. Junior Gunnar Baron had 119 yards passing and a TD to Ian Harrer, as he also led the team with 43 yards rushing.
Thomas Mercer caught four passes for 72, Jackson Bellcock, one of the top returning rushers in the district, was held in check by the Warriors, as he did catch three passes for 30 yards.
"That was a tough opener for Newell-Fonda against a very good, very physical team," Dillon said. "I'm sure they'll come out hungry and that is something we have to match."
The two met for the first time last year, as St. Edmond scored a 64-28 victory.