CONTESTED PASS … Edon receiver Landen Reitzel goes up for a catch with Hilltop’s Aaryan Shaffer in coverage.
PHOTOS BY REBEKAH DELL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
EDON QUARTERBACK … Briggs Gallehue (above) was 15/27 passing for 188 yards and three touchdowns in the Bombers’ 48-14 win over Hilltop.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
EDON (October 18, 2025) – The Edon Bombers took advantage of excellent field position in the first half to claim a 48-14 Toledo Area Athletic Conference victory over Hilltop at Leanne Field.
“I thought we executed pretty well most of the night,” said Edon head coach Bob Olwin. “Our kids were ready, it was a Saturday night game, and they are not used to that. I thought we came out and hit pretty well.”
Edon wide receiver Gauge Nester scored the first of his four touchdowns early in the first quarter.
Following a 41-yard punt return by Edon’s Kadin Stantz to the Hilltop 19-yard line, it took two plays and after a five-yard gain by Nester, the 6-0, 175-pound senior then found pay dirt scoring from nine yards out and Jose de Souza Franca added the PAT kick for a 7-0 lead.
Edon’s defense came up with a huge stop when Hilltop running back Scott Bowers was stopped short of a first down at the Cadets’ 40-yard line.
Again, the Bombers had good field position and following four consecutive passes from quarterback Briggs Gallehue totaling 20 yards before connecting with Nester, who raced untouched on an eight-yard touchdown pass for a 14-0 advantage.
The game was then stopped due to lightning in the area at 7:26 p.m. before finally resuming play following a 35-minute delay at 8:01 p.m.
After forcing a short 21-yard Hilltop punt, the Bombers gained possession at the Cadets’ 41-yard line. Four plays later Nester tallied his third score of the night from two yards out with 10:43 remaining in the first half.
Edon’s defense came up with another big play as defensive lineman Grant Reed recovered a Hilltop fumble at the Cadets’ 16-yard line and on the next play, Gallehue found Eli Dickmann on a 17-yard scoring pass at the 10:17 mark of the second quarter.
Nester then added his fourth touchdown in the half on a three-yard run after he caught a 23-yard pass from Gallehue to the Cadets’ 3-yard line, a play earlier.
He finished the night with six carries for 29 yards on the ground and hauled in five passes for 44 yards along with his four touchdowns.
“Gauge (Nester) is having what we call a special senior season,” said Olwin. “He’s a kid that works really hard and is unassuming.
“He’ll give you every ounce of energy he has and is so respectful. I’m really proud of what he has done in his career here at Edon.”
Just before halftime, Gallehue gave Edon a decisive 42-0 lead with a one-yard quarterback keeper enabling a running clock to begin the second half.
Gallehue was 15 of 27 for 188 yards passing and three touchdowns for the Bombers.
Despite being outgained, 222-60, in total offense in the first half, the Cadets were able to make some offensive noise in the third quarter.
Starting at their own 11-yard line, Cadets’ quarterback Cameron Shimp, who had totaled four yards passing in the first half, completed a 52-yard pass to Anthony Jiannuzzi to the Edon 37-yard line.
Shimp then completed back-to-back passes to Brycen Grubbs (21 yards) and Riley Carter (11 yards) before senior offensive lineman Jesus Guillen who was lined up in the backfield scored on a five-yard run, avoiding the shutout.
Edon tallied its final touchdown in the fourth quarter with freshman quarterback Jaron Grove scoring on a 16-yard run. He finished as the leading rusher for the Bombers with 60 yards on five carries all in the second half.
The Cadets got their other touchdown on a 62-yard pass from Shimp to Grubb with Guillen scoring on the two-point conversion run for the 48-14 final score.
Shimp was 7 of 18 for 150 yards through the air for the Cadets (3-6, 3-3 TAAC). Bowers was held to just 56 yards on 13 carries, and Grubbs had two catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. The Bombers (7-2, 5-1 TAAC) had a decisive 345-233 in total offense.
With one regular season home game remaining with Montpelier (6-3, 5-1 TAAC) on Friday night, the stakes will be a little higher with a berth in the Division VII Region 26 playoffs on the line.
The Bombers are currently ninth in the region, according to Joe Eitel while the Locos are rated eleventh entering the final week and trying to hang on to grab one of the 12 regional berths.
“I was there last night watching their (Montpelier) game with North Central, and they’re very explosive,” said the Edon coach. “Our defense will be tested from the standpoint of discipline and the ability to tackle because they have good athletes.”
Hilltop has a short week before hosting North Central in its regular season finale on Thursday night.
HHS 0 0 6 8 – 14
EHS 14 28 0 6 – 48
E – Nester 9-yd pass from Gallehue (de Souza kick)
E – Nester 8-yd pass from Gallehue (de Souza kick)
E – Nester 2-yd run (de Souza kick)
E – Dickmann 17-yd pass from Gallehue (de Souza kick)
E – Gallehue 1-yd run (de Souza kick)
H – Guillen 5-yd run (run failed)
E – Grove 16-yd run (kick failed)
H – Grubbs 62-yd pass from Shimp (Guillen run)