On Friday, Nov. 12, the Ellsworth Panthers football team defeated the Freedom Irish 46-7 in the Division 4 Sectional Final game to advance to the state title game against Catholic Memorial on Thursday, Nov. 18.

The Panthers again continued to steamroll teams in the 2021 postseason with the blowout victory against Freedom on Friday night. The three-headed offensive monster for the Panthers of seniors Max Grand, Ashten Quade and Jack Janke proved to be too much for the Irish to overcome, as the Panthers put up 46 points in the victory.

With the win, Ellsworth, under the direction of head coach Rob Heller, improves to 12-0 for the season. The Panthers will play in the state title game on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Camp Randall in Madison.

Since there wasn’t a state championship game last season because of the pandemic, this season will mark the 30th anniversary of the 1990 Ellsworth state championship football team. What better way for Heller, the coaching staff and the players to honor that team from three decades ago than by winning another state title in its anniversary season.

Panthers (from left) Max Grand, Ryan Matzek and Carson Nugent fired up the large Ellsworth contingent of fans that followed the team to Marshfield, where the Panthers defeated Freedom by a 46-7 score to qualify for the WIAA . State Football Championship. Ellsworth plays Catholic Memorial Thursday, Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. See full coverage in Section B. Photo by John McLoone