By Matt Browning

The Ellsworth football team won its first seven games last season, beating perennial powers Beloit and Hillsboro along the way. Then the Bearcats defeated Garden Plain in the first round of the playoffs before falling to Kingman a week later. The entire roster is back from that team, which has Ellsworth hungry to repeat last season’s success, plus add more games in November.

“I think last year helped prepare us for this year,” said Ellsworth head coach Josh Homolka. “We return everyone from last year’s roster. We were able to feel what playoff football really is. I think that is something they want to feel again.”

The Bearcats bring back the following first team all-league players: offensive and defensive lineman Jordan Rodriguez, tight end Cole Webber, linebacker Loden West and defensive back Layon Leiker. Also returning are the following second team all-league selections: quarterback Will Cravens, running back Wyatt Bohnen, and offensive and defensive lineman Brendan Anderson.

The bottom line is Ellsworth is as talented as it has been in quite some time.

“On paper this team is hands down the most experienced team we have fielded in my time at Ellsworth,” Homolka said. “Keeping ourselves focused on the big picture and not living in snapshots day to day will be critical for us. Our goal is to make the playoffs, that has been the goal since 2017 (when Homolka took over). You make the playoffs you have a chance. You have to be invited to the party first. So we want to play physical football and be a team in the playoffs.”