This Friday the (5-3) Exira-EHK Spartans are at home against the (6-2) Glidden-Ralston Wildcats for the first round of 8-Player playoff football. This first year of coaching for Exira-EHK Head Coach Drew Buckholdt has had its ups and downs. He’s learned a lot about his team and noticed their resiliency in one particular game this season. The hard fought 28-22 win against Fremont-Mills.

The offensive has been clicking for Exira-EHK in their last three games, riding a three-game winning streak and scoring 134 points. Quarterback Jameson Kilworth has seemed to find a rhythm throwing for 823 yards and 10 touchdowns. On the ground his numbers are nearly identical scrambling for 842 yards and 12 scores.

Kilworth has been helped out by running back Alex Hansen with close to 500 yards rushing and 11 scores. His favorite target on the year has been Cash Emgarten with 26 grabs, 412 yards, and 6 touchdowns. But if you ask Coach Buckholdt the unspoken reason for his offensive success is the effort from the offensive line.

The offensive line will have their work cut out for them with a tough nosed Glidden-Ralston team on Friday. The Wildcats defense has forced 11 interceptions and amassed 65 tackles for loss on the year.

On the other side of the ball the Glidden-Ralston offense loves to pound the rock. They have accumulated over 2000 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns. Quarterback Colby Wallace has over 1000 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns.

Coach Buckholdt knows about the tenacity Glidden-Ralston brings.

The game plan for Friday is to be ready for intense physical play that the Wildcats are known for and to control the line of scrimmage.

The game will be covered on KJAN and the pregame starts at 6:30pm.