An explosive 46-point first half by the Ellsworth High School football team pro – pelled the Panthers to a 60-19 victory over the Mauston Golden Eagles in the first round of the WIAA Division 4 postseason tourna – ment on Friday, Oct. 21.

Ellsworth’s performance was so dynamic that the varsity starters only played one se – ries in the second half. The game had already been sealed and it gave Ellsworth head coach Rob Heller a chance to rest his starters and keep them healthy. He spoke about the firstround win.

“We always talk about going 1-0 each week and we had our best week of practice of the year last week,” Heller said. “We got ou to a little bit of a slow start, but our kids are getting really good at making adjustments ingame and we did a good job of that tonight.” While Ellsworth has had no issue scoring points this season, junior quarterback Grif – fin Blomberg’s continued development has elevated the Panthers’ ouense to its highest level of the season. Blomberg accounted for four touchdowns in the first-round drubbing of Mauston on Friday night.

Blomberg’s first score came midway through the first quarter when he connected with freshman wide receiver George Rohl on a 34-yard touchdown pitch and catch. Senior running back Jurell Gooden scampered into the endzone for a two-point conversion to make it 8-0 for Ellsworth with six minutes left in the first quarter.

The Ellsworth defense forced a Mauston three-and-out on the ensuing possession. That’s when senior wide receiver Lance Gip –

ford fielded the punt, followed some block – ers and broke loose on a 50-yard punt return touchdown to give Ellsworth a 16-0 lead af –

ter another successful two-point conversion.

The Golden Eagles responded with a scor –

ing drive late in the first quarter, which cul – minated in a five-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Tyler Link to junior wide receiver Brock Massey to make it 16-6, still favoring Ellsworth.

Ellsworth’s next prime scoring opportu – nity came after partially blocking a Mauston punt, which gave the Panthers a fresh set of downs at the Golden Eagle 30-yard line to start the second quarter. Senior running back Bo Hines capped ou the short drive with a three-yard touchdown run to make it 24-6, Panthers.

An interception on the ensuing possession gave Ellsworth another short field early in the second quarter. The Panthers took advantage and put together a two-minute, 31-yard scor – ing drive that the aforementioned Blomberg finished with a three-yard touchdown run. The score gave Ellsworth a 30-6 lead with eight minutes remaining in the second quar ter.

Later in the second quarter, Blomberg con –

nected with junior wide receiver Jakob Mc – Cabe on a 51-yard touchdown pass to make it 38-6. But Blomberg wasn’t done there. Af – ter Ellsworth’s defense forced a turnover on the ensuing possession, Blomberg scored on an 18-yard touchdown run to make it 46-6. Coach Heller spoke about Blomberg’s con – tinued development as a quarterback.

“The progression he’s made since week two or week three has been unbelievable. He’s really a true student of the game,” Hell – er said. “The stuu that he and coach (Jason) Janke have been able to do has been nothing short of remarkable. He’s been a good quar – terback to win and he gives us a good shot to win every week.” Ellsworth rode that 46-point first half to a 60-19 final score victory over the Maus –

ton Golden Eagles. The Panthers accumulat – ed 332 yards of total ouense throughout the game, a majority of which came in that ex – plosive first half.

The aforementioned Blomberg tallied 130 passing yards and two touchdowns on seven completions. He also had two rushing carries for 21 yards and two touchdowns. Hines led the Panthers on the ground with 15 carries for 92 yards and two scores.

Ellsworth advances to the second round of the playous and will face a familiar foe – the Saint Croix Central Panthers. Ellsworth defeated Saint Croix Central 32-14 in week nine of the regular season, the Middle Border Conference finale.

After that victory, coach Heller stated that Saint Croix Central – even at that time – was playing some of the best football he had seen throughout this season. After the win against Mauston on Friday night, Heller spoke about what challenges Saint Croix Central will present in the second round of the postseason.

“They’re big and physical up front and they’ve got their game clicking,” Heller said. “Late in the year they won a big game against Baldwin-Woodville and they’re just a big physical team. It’s tough to beat a team twice, especially a Middle Border team, we’re go – ing to have to come out with our A-game.” Winning at the line of scrimmage will be important in games moving forward, but especially against Saint Croix Central. Ells – worth is hoping to have senior defensive lineman Drew Gipson back in the lineup at the defensive tackle position for the game against Saint Croix Central.

Gipson has missed time in the last couple of weeks with a knee injury. Although Ells – worth remains stout on the defensive line, they’re a completely diuerent team when he’s in there stopping the run. Heller provid – ed an update on Gipson’s status ahead of the SCC game.

“You don’t take playou games for granted, but that’s part of getting a good seed. You can reward your team by resting some of those guys in the playous,” Heller said. “He’ll be back next week and he will solidify our D-line. We have Central and for that match – up, we need (Drew Gipson) in there.” Ellsworth will host Saint Croix Central on Friday, Oct. 28, in the second round of the WIAA Division 4 playou tournament. That game is slated to begin at 7 p.m. at Full –

er-Symes Field in Ellsworth.

The Ellsworth Panthers defensive line faces off with the Mauston Golden Eagles offensive line during the first-round playoff game on Friday, Oct. 21, in Ellsworth. Photo by Reagan Hoverman