The Hartington-Newcastle Wildcats will take on Wausa/Osmond at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.
Hartington-Newcastle is headed into the contest out to prove that what happened against Crofton on Friday (when they were outscored in every quarter) was just a minor bump in the road. The Wildcats lost 52-30 to the Warriors. The matchup marked the Wildcats' lowest-scoring game so far this season.
Despite their defeat, Hartington-Newcastle saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Austin Sudbeck, who rushed for 90 yards and one touchdown, and also threw for 229 yards and one TD while picking up 10.9 yards per attempt, was perhaps the best of all. Another player making a difference was Mason Krause, who picked up 135 receiving yards and one score.
Meanwhile, Wausa/Osmond faced Bloomfield in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Friday. Wausa/Osmond enjoyed a cozy 36-22 win over Bloomfield. The victory was just business as usual for Wausa/Osmond, who after five games remain undefeated this season.
Hartington-Newcastle better keep an eye on Mac Carlson. He was instrumental in Wausa/Osmond's win, rushing for 119 yards and one touchdown, while also throwing for 97 yards and three TDs. Those three passing touchdowns gave Carlson a new career-high. Matthew Schindler was another key player, gaining 73 total yards and two touchdowns.
Having lost for the first time this season, Hartington-Newcastle fell to 4-1. As for Wausa/Osmond, their win bumped their record up to 5-0.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Hartington-Newcastle has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 269.8 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Wausa/Osmond struggles in that department as they've been averaging 242.2 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything came up roses for Hartington-Newcastle against Wausa/Osmond in their previous matchup back in October of 2024, as the team secured a 56-14 victory. In that game, the Wildcats amassed a halftime lead of 30-6, an impressive feat they'll look to repeat on Friday.
