The Bancroft-Rosalie Panthers will head out to square off against the Winside Wildcats at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty point totals in their previous games.
As a matter of fact, Bancroft-Rosalie put up the most points they have all season on Friday. They really took it to Randolph for the full four quarters, racking up an 82-42 victory. With the Panthers ahead 54-28 at the half, the game was all but over already.
Bancroft-Rosalie's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Jaden Browning, who threw for 196 yards and five touchdowns, and also rushed for 36 yards and one TD. The Panthers' leading receiver Braylon Wegner was Browning's top target yet again, picking up 143 receiving yards and three scores.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Bancroft-Rosalie was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 404 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've posted since the start of last season.
Meanwhile, Winside had already won three in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 21.7 points) and they went ahead and made it four on Friday. They claimed a resounding 72-40 victory over the Blujays. The Wildcats pushed the score to 66-26 by the end of the third, a deficit the Blujays cut but never quite recovered from.
Winside didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Matthew Gubbels, Mason Edwards, and Asher Uttecht picked up one apiece. Winside received some extra help from Tyler Paulsen, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Bancroft-Rosalie's record is now 4-1. As for Winside, their record now sits at an identical 4-1.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Bancroft-Rosalie has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 211 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Winside struggles in that department as they've been averaging 174 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything came up roses for Bancroft-Rosalie against Winside in their previous matchup back in October of 2024, as the squad secured a 70-22 win. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was the Wildcats' Mace Magwire, who rushed for 90 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and also threw for 71 yards and one TD. Now that he won't be playing on Friday, will it be easier for the Panthers to walk away with another win? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
