The Bearcat football season came to a close against the Norton Bluejays in the sectional round of playoffs Nov. 10 when the Cats lost 20-6 at home.

“Winning two playoff rounds and the third nine-win season is something these players can always look fondly back at,” Head Coach Josh Homolka said. “I am just so proud to be associated with this team.”

It was a historic season for the Bearcats. The team went 7-1 during the regular season and won their first two playoff games.

For many players, the highlight of the season were the playoff games that led to an exciting regional win and brought them to the next round.

“The highlight of my senior season was definitely the playoff run,” senior Loden West said.

“Although it got cut shorter than I expected, we still did so many good things.”

The Bearcats began their game against the Bluejays on offense.

Ellsworth fumbled early to end a Bearcat drive.

Norton drove the ball down the field, but failed on a fourth down conversion. Pressure by sophomore Cooper McGowan and West forced a Norton fumble recovered by West. The quarter ended 0-0.

With 2:06 left in the half, Norton scored the first touchdown of the game. The half ended 6-0, Norton.

“I was quite nervous going into this game because our team had never made it this far,” senior Trenton Hays said.

“During the game, emotions went up and down as the game went on.”

The Bearcats entered the second half fighting for a comeback. By the end of the third quarter, the score was still 6-0.

Norton had a 7-minute drive in the fourth quarter that ended in a touchdown. The Bluejays scored again, making it 20-0.

The Bearcats were determined to finish an incredible season strong.

With 49 seconds left, they scored their final touchdown of the season, ending the game 20-6, Norton.

“Knowing that it was my last football game playing on Shanelec Football Field along with my brothers, it was hard to process what emotion I was really feeling,” senior Wyatt Pelzel said.

“I never get to play on that field again,” West said, “and that’s hard to take in.”

It was a bittersweet end to an extraordinary season. The Bearcats had a seven-game winning streak, crushing their opponents and seeing shutouts along the way.

The brotherhood faced a loss against Southeast of Saline, but banded together to have a huge win in the first round of district playoffs.

This brought them to Garden Plain, where a back-and-forth battle ended in a huge Bearcat victory and the first regional trophy in many years. The sectional game was a difficult one to lose for the entire team, but the season will be remembered long into the future. “This senior class taught us that we have a high level of talent in every corner of this community,” Homolka said.

“What are you willing to do with those talents?

They chose to become a tight-knit group who pulled people from all classes and ignited the imaginations of so many young people in this community. When you have the imagination to dream, great things will happen.

With a bit of grit and determination, those goals can happen.

“I am indebted to so many who have played and coached the Bearcat football program the last seven seasons. I am so profoundly honored to have coached this senior class. They have developed the blueprint on how to be a great team, great teammates and just great people. I am sorry it had to end. You just do not want it to end.”