BELOIT — The Bearcat varsity football team took their first victory of the season Sept. 1.

The team anxiously awaited and prepared for the season-opener. By practicing hard and learning what was needed to compete to the level of competition, the Cats were able to defeat the Trojans in their homecoming game, 22-14.

While the first quarter started slow, the Cats were still able to adjust to the offense Beloit gave them. Because it was the first game of the season, the Trojans offered new challenges for Ellsworth’s defense.

“We were able to adjust to both the temp and the schemes that Beloit was using,” Head Coach Josh Homolka said. “They did things on their offense that were a little different than the past. I felt after the first series, coach McWilliams and the defensive players did a great job of adjusting and making plays.”

Not only did the team jump out on defense, they also played strategically on offense, making every possession count.

With a quarterback rate of 110.8, senior Will Cravens led the team to offensive success. He allowed senior Layton Leiker 75 yards in three receptions.

Senior Loden West led the team in rushing yards for the night. As a leader on the team, West worked with his teammates in the off season and the first couple of weeks of practice to prepare for the season.

“We worked our butts off in the summer in the weight room, getting stronger and ready for the upcoming season,” West said. “A lot of us lift on our own and do speed work with the school and other people to get faster. We really honed in during camp and the week of our jamboree. We had sharp and crisp practices with a purpose. All we want to do is win. We want to return the winning culture to not only football, but every sport.”

Taking the victory over the Trojans, the Bearcats are optimistic about their season. However, they know it will be a fight to reach the top.

“We know we can compete with top teams in 2A right now,” Homolka said. “The key will be how we handle the challenge of being the team with the target on their back. We will be the favorite in many games we play. How do we handle that? We always embraced the underdog challenge. The tables have turned, we are an older team now, and people expect us to be who we are week-in and week-out … My hope is we can handle the challenge well.”

The Bearcats will take on the Republic County Buffaloes at home tomorrow at 7 p.m.

“We know we can compete with top teams in 2A right now. The key will be how we handle the challenge of being the team with the target on their back.”

Josh Homolka

EJSHS Head Football Coach