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LAKE PARK – The St. Edmond football team hits the road for the third straight game, taking on Harris-Lake Park here Friday night.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
The Gaels (2-4 overall, 2-2 in district) came off a bye last week and were handled by GTRA, 66-12. That followed a loss to defending state champion and fifth-ranked Bishop Garrigan in late September, 63-0.
In its last three games, all losses, St. Edmond has allowed 213 points while scoring just 46. Before that, the Gaels had bested Newell-Fonda and Glidden-Ralston, averaging 45 points per game in those wins.
"We had a tough stretch of three straight games there with Remsen St. Mary's, Bishop Garrigan and GTRA," SEHS head coach Matt Dillon said. "The kids are excited to get back out there and show what they are capable of.
"Honestly, we had one of the better weeks of practice."
Junior Thomas Ehn threw for 193 yards and two touchdowns at GTRA, as senior Griffin Laufersweiler and freshman Gavin McClain each caught 65-yard TDs. Laufersweiler had four receptions for 107 yards.
Ehn, in his first year as the starting quarterback, has thrown for 1,163 yards and 19 touchdowns, adding three rushing scores. Ty Mericle, a senior, has 32 receptions for 424 yards and eight TDs, with Laufersweiler adding 31 for 380 and four scores.
Senior Jacob Nieland leads the defense with 30.5 tackles, including 13 for loss, as McClain has 27.5 stops and junior Jack Webster 24.5 with four sacks.
"We know the playoffs are out of reach, but we want to finish the season strong," Dillon said. "We'll do our best to try and get a couple Ws here and maybe knock someone else out of the postseason along the way."
Harris-Lake Park (1-5, 1-3) has scored just 12 points this season. The lone win came via forfeit to Siouxland Christian, which is not fielding a varsity program this fall.
The Wolves have dropped games by an average of 63 points to North Iowa, Northwood-Kensett, No. 9 Kingsley-Pierson, Newell-Fonda and Remsen St. Mary's. They are just three years removed from five consecutive years with at least five wins, including two playoff appearances.
Five different players have attempted passes, with Grady Olson leading the way with 89 yards and the lone touchdown. Karter Evans has 57 yards rushing and the only TD on the ground, along with five catches for 98 yards and a touchdown.
Senior Ryder Bobzien and junior Beckett Rahe completed eight passes last week vs. Remsen St. Mary's, as Harris-Lake Park was credited with negative 31 yards rushing.