ELLSWORTH BEARCATS

By Keegan McCullick, Staff Writer

Ellsworth posted its best record in decades last fall with an 8-2 mark in coach Josh Homolka’s sixth season at the helm.

The Bearcats set the tone in the season opener against perennial power Beloit, winning in a defensive slugfest, 14-6. Over the course of the next five games EHS outscored teams 167-0, before allowing just 15 and 19 points in their next two wins against Russell and Halstead, respectively.

Homolka’s team dropped their first contest in the last game of the regular season against a loaded Southeast of Saline team, before a 21-7 first round playoff win over Garden Plain, and then a loss to eventual 2A runner-up Kingman, 33-6.

Despite the impressive record and losses coming against teams with a combined 23-2 final record, the Bearcats likely didn’t love the ending of their campaign, but the good news is all 11 starters are back on both sides of the ball and Salina South standout running back Ian Andalon-Silva transferred in this offseason to add an additional weapon on offense.

“We will have a wealth of experience,” Homolka said. “This senior class has seen a lot of football since they were freshmen. We had to get through a couple tough years in their freshman and sophomore seasons. Even then we played competitive football, especially their sophomore season.”

Two of the top players from that senior class are All-State linebackers Loden West and Cole Webber. The duo were the leading tacklers a season ago.

During his junior season Webber recorded 54 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, a sack, and a team-leading three interceptions. The senior has an offer from Butler Community College and interest from DI and DII programs, though his position at the next level may be tight end or receiver.

“Our team goal is to make a deep playoff run,” Webber said. “We have the talent and coaching to make that possible.”

West led the team in tackles with 69, to go with two sacks. His performance has led to offers from Northwest Oklahoma State and Friends with additional interest at the DII, JUCO and NAIA level.

After the team’s strong season ending on a sour note, the senior is taking nothing for granted this season.

“Key takeaways for me and my guys are rankings don’t matter and it takes everyone, not just one guy,” West said. “We all have to be a part of it and we need to stay healthy and focused.”

While the flying Ws may be the top returners on defense, the Bearcats have a load of talent and experience to complement their top returning tacklers. Seniors Layton Leiker (46 tkls., 2 sacks, 2 INTs) and Wyatt Bohnen (47 tkls., 2 INTs) round out a quality quartet at linebacker, and seniors Jordan Rodriguez (32 tkls., 3.5 sacks), Riley Stone (32 tkls., sack), Brendan Anderson (30 tkls.), and sophomore Trent Hays (10 tkls.) will keep those LBs jerseys’ clean with their play along the D-line. Not to be outdone, seniors Wyatt Pelzel (21 tkls., INT) and Josh Rodriguez (23 tkls., 2 INTs) at corner, and junior Daxton Leiker (37 tkls.) at safety leave the Bearcats well-equipped in the secondary.

On the other side of the ball, senior QB Will Cravens (86-169, 1,169 yds., 15 TDs; 57 car,, 305 yds., 3 TDs) is back to lead an explosive and balanced offense that features Bohnen (96 car., 555 yds., 3 TDs) and West (123 car., 550 yds., 10 TDs) in the backfield, Webber (33 rec., 573 yds., 13 TDs) and Leiker (31 rec., 374 yds.) at receiver, Stone at tight end (6 rec., 79 yds., 2 TD), along with junior Tyler Conley, sophomore Micah

Galvin, Hays, Rodriguez, and Anderson on the O-line.

“I am excited for this group, we have a lot of experience in our senior class, but we have some really talented underclassmen that are going to play really key roles this movers like Purvis are equally as important to a team’s success.

Purvis received All-League honors as a junior and saw interest from multiple FBS and FCS programs with offers from Navy (where older brother Ben plays), Tulsa, U-Mass, South Dakota, and others. He announced his verbal commitment to UNLV on Independence Day.

The senior lineman cleared the way for an offense that gained 3,634 total yards last fall and is expected to be joined by senior linemen Dalton Welch and Xavier Triana in the starting unit this fall.

That trio, plus the other two O-line starters yet to be determined, has an experienced groups of skill players to block for, including senior All-League running back Thomas Gorges (102 car., 505 yds., 9 TDs), senior All-League receiver Luke Holthusen (26 rec., 259 yds., 3 TDs), fellow senior receivers Van Haneberg (13 rec., 142 yds.) and Parker Flax (4 rec., 28 yds.), and junior tight end Ethan Schrandt.

It also doesn’t hurt that they return a Divison I QB prospect under center.

“We have all the potential in the world, we just need to learn how to use it together and we can beat almost any team,” Purvis said. “We have Jackson King, who is a phenomenal playmaker and athletic QB who can turn a messed up play into a touchdown on his feet.”

King used his playmaking abilities to rush for 948 yards and 15 TDs on 159 carries and added another 1,280 yards and seven TDs on 84 of 165 passing as a junior, earning All-State honors for his efforts.

Like Purvis, King is among the top prospects in the Kansas class of 2024 and had multiple DI offers, before ultimately verballing to the Air Force Academy.

Much like the Eagles’ offensive line, defensively Carroll has some bright spots, but plenty of holes to fill as well.

“The major concern going into the 2023 football season is the lack of experience and developing depth on both sides of the football, but especially on the defensive side,” Trail said. “Young players will have to step up the intensity and challenge themselves to compete at a high level in practice to make themselves and the team better.”

The six returners with starting experience on defense include senior linebackers Cash Ungles (9 tkls.) and Carter Morris (63 tkls., 2 INTs), senior defensive lineman Sam Hampton (21 tkls., 1 sack), senior defensive backs Hayden Woolley (9 tkls.), Tyler Chrisman (16 tkls.), and junior D-back Hayden Hiebert (12 tkls.).

Despite the question marks, Carroll’s high top end talent and tradition that includes 20 straight playoff appearances, 27 straight winning seasons, and a 50-16 record under Trail has the Eagles feeling confident about this fall.

“The goal for our team is a state championship,” King said. “There has always been a winning tradition at Bishop Carroll and that won’t change this year.”