The Halstead Dragons are taking a road trip to take on the Ellsworth Bearcats at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Halstead has given up an average of 26 points per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
On Friday, Halstead lost to Minneapolis at home by a 40-21 margin. The Dragons have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Despite their loss, Halstead saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Edric Zorn, who rushed for 95 yards and a pair of touchdowns, was perhaps the best of all. Wyatt Hobbs also helped out with an impressive 81 receiving yards.
Meanwhile, Ellsworth played a tough matchup on Friday in which they were outscored in every quarter. They came up short against Hillsboro, falling 54-32. The Bearcats were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 26-6.
Like Halstead, Ellsworth lost despite seeing results from several players. Tucker Goss led the charge by rushing for 164 yards and one TD. Goss is crushing it when it comes to rushing yards: he's rushed for at least 133 every time he's taken the field this season. Carson Jacobs also helped out as he racked up 104 rushing yards.
Ellsworth didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Jacobs and Jackson Minear. Ellsworth received some extra help from Cooper McGowan, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Halstead's defeat dropped their record down to 1-4. As for Ellsworth, their loss was their first of the season and makes their record 4-1.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Halstead has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 156 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Ellsworth struggles in that department as they've been averaging 379.6 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Halstead strolled past Ellsworth in their previous meeting back in October of 2024 by a score of 31-13. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was the Bearcats' Landin Johnson, who rushed for 190 yards. Now that he won't be playing on Friday, will it be easier for the Dragons to walk away with another win? There's only one way to find out.
