ELLSWORTH — Ellsworth could not keep pace with the Altoona Railroaders in the Panthers’ final home game, losing 42-7 to one of the area’s best defenses.

The game started on the right note for Ellsworth, as the Panthers forced a third and long after just two plays. A rollout quarterback run got Altoona the first down, but it would be the last of the drive as Ellsworth locked down the next three plays.

The 6-2 Railroaders are having a great year, and a large part of that has been the defense. They shut out Prescott and Amery, and have held Fall Creek, Saint Croix Central, Black River Falls and now Ellsworth to 14 or less. That defense showed its might early, tipping a deep ball and corralling it for an interception and great field position on Ellsworth’s first drive. Altoona capitalized on that field position for a 6-0 lead. A deep ball down the left sideline in the second quarter was bobbled and caught by an Altoona receiver for another score and a 12-0 lead.

Ellsworth struck back with a 15-yard pass to the corner of the end zone from quarterback Jack Stoltenburg to George Rohl who made an impeccable contested grab. That would be the lone score for Ellsworth, losing 42-7 against Altoona.

“We’re pretty banged up right now. Altoona’s definitely taken a big step in the right direction. They’re much improved from last year,” Head Coach Rob Heller said. “Unfortunately, that’s kind of the story of the game. We had three big injuries during the game. It’s hard to get continuity when you’ve got the injury bug biting you like that.”

Heller said week eight is not the ideal spot to be dealing with injuries, as teams are coming together and finding chemistry.
Friday was Senior Night for Ellsworth. This year’s class is stuffed full of playmakers on both sides of the ball.

“They’re great kids, but I really kind of feel for them because they’ve been bit by the injury bug. They’ve had to deal with a bunch of adversity. Proud of the way they battle every week,” Heller said. “I wish they could’ve had the senior year that they were supposed to have on paper, but that is how football goes.”

At 4-4 overall and 3-3 in Middle Border Conference play, Ellsworth has a lot to play for in terms of the postseason. The final game will not be easy though, as the Panthers are slated to take on a 6-2 Osceola team with a 5-1 Middle Border Conference record.

“They’re good. They’re one of the top teams in the conference,” Heller said. “What we’re going to try to do is try to simplify some stuff on offense and just try to bring as much physicality as we can on defense.”

Heller said Osceola is both fast and well-coached. To match that, he wants to see a physical Panther squad. If they can win the physicality battle, it will make the speedy Osceola players uncomfortable.