STIFF ARM … Edon sophomore Lincoln Kiess tries to shed an Edgerton tackler.
PHOTOS BY REBEKAH DELL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
EDGERTON QUARTERBACK … Maddox Baker (above) threw for 119 yards and ran for 107 in the Bulldogs’ 28-21 loss at Edon.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
EDON (October 31, 2025) – Edon avenged its season-opening one-sided setback to archrival Edgerton in the opening round of the Division VII, Region 26 football playoffs at Leanne Field as the Bombers rallied in the fourth quarter to capture a 28-21 victory over the Bulldogs.
“It was a different team than what we saw in week one,” said Edgerton head coach Brody Flegal. “Obviously, we knew that going in, and they (Edon) had a nice game plan. They made more plays, and that’s a credit to them.”
When the two archrivals had met in the season opener on August 22, it was the Bulldogs who had easily dominated the Bombers in a 41-14 victory.
This time around, the stakes were much higher as the two archrivals, who had already met 52 previous times, with Edgerton holding a decisive 35-17 series edge. It also marked the first time both teams had squared off against each other in the state playoffs.
After forcing Edgerton on a quick three-and-out to begin the game, Edon put together an impressive 11-play, 66-yard drive, and, facing fourth and five at the Edgerton 12-yard line, Bombers’ quarterback Briggs Gallehue connected with Kadin Stantz on a 12-yard slant pass for the touchdown with 7:35 remaining in the first quarter. Jose Pedro de Souza Franca then added the PAT kick for a 7-0 lead.
The Bulldogs answered back with junior wide receiver Kellen Sanchez coming up with a couple of key plays on a nine-play, 74-yard drive. On fourth and two at the Edgerton 49-yard line, he took advantage of a fake punt for a nine-yard gain to the Edon 43.
On the next play, Edgerton quarterback Maddox Baker completed a 35-yard pass to Parker Elden to the Edon 8-yard line. Sanchez threw a halfback pass to Baker, covering the final eight yards for the touchdown. Parker Elden’s PAT kick tied the game at 7-7.
Edgerton threatened to score again early in the second quarter, with Baker picking up 50 yards to the Edon 25 and then completing a 15-yard pass to Sanchez to the Edon 10.
The drive then stalled as Baker was sacked by Edon linebacker Landon Reitzel for a 17-yard loss, and the Bombers took over following an incomplete pass on fourth down.
Just before halftime, the Bulldogs got the ball back following an Edon punt at the Bombers’ 45-yard line.
Three plays later, Parker Elden successfully completed a halfback pass to Karter Gibson for a 31-yard touchdown as the Bulldogs led 14-7 at halftime.
Edon received the second half kickoff with Gauge Nester returning it 52 yards to the Edgerton 25-yard line.
Five plays later, on fourth and five at the Bulldogs’ 9-yard line, Gallehue connected with Stantz on a nine-yard TD pass, and the score was deadlocked at 14-14.
The Bulldogs’ defense came up with a huge stop when defensive lineman Ty Leppelmeier sacked Gallehue for a 12-yard loss back at the Edon 16-yard line.
Leppelmeier’s defensive play gave the Bulldogs possession at their own 35-yard line, and on first down, Sanchez raced down the Edgerton sideline while shaking off several Edon defenders along the way en route for a 65-yard touchdown run and a 21-14 Edgerton lead with 6:14 left in the third quarter.
“They’re real talented speed-wise, and they ran every trick play known to man against us, and difficult to defend,” said Edon head coach Bob Olwin.
“Our kids had to without Parker Moyer. It puts a strain on us a little bit in the coverage game. We try to do the best we can to find their receivers.”
With the Bulldogs quickly gaining momentum in the third quarter, the Bombers found a way to regain it in the fourth quarter with a pair of touchdowns, along with three huge defensive stops.
Edon went ten plays and 80 yards early in the fourth quarter as Stantz caught his third scoring strike of the night, this time from 23 yards out, from Gallehue on third down, to tie it at 21-21.
A 42-yard kickoff return by Gibson to the Edon 39 gave the Bulldogs excellent field position, but on fourth down and two at the Bombers’ 16-yard line, Sanchez was then stopped just a yard short of the first down.
Edgerton would get the ball back following an Edon punt at the Bulldogs’ 20-yard line. Sanchez then attempted a halfback pass but was intercepted by senior defensive lineman Grant Reed at the Edgerton 15.
“He’s (Reed) got two interceptions from his defensive end position, though he didn’t start at the beginning of the year,” said the Edon coach. “He’s really come around and just did what he was coached to do.”
The 6-0, 230-pound senior also had to replace starting center Danny Avila-Garcia, who suffered an injury in the first half and didn’t return.
Gallehue then scored on a quarterback draw play covering 15 yards as the Bombers took the lead for good, 28-21, with 4:37 remaining.
“I thought Briggs didn’t throw great, but he ran the crap out of the ball,” said Olwin. “We also had a lot of different kids catch the ball tonight.”
Edgerton outgained Edon, 377-300, in total offense. Gallehue was 22 of 46 for 196 yards through the air with three touchdown passes and rushed for 44 yards on 13 carries and a score.
Stantz grabbed nine passes for 90 yards to lead the Bombers. Kendol Brigle had eight catches for 93 yards.
Baker completed 11 of 22 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown while adding 107 yards on the ground on 17 carries. Sanchez tallied 108 yards rushing on 11 carries and caught six passes for 49 yards.
Edgerton closed out its season with a 6-5 record. The Bulldogs also graduate 12 seniors: Maddox Baker, Caden Sinclair, Brady Everetts, Parker Elden, Karter Gibson, Tucker Curl, Orlando Puente, Jackson Flower, Jacob Steffes, Urijah Rivera, Noah Weaver, and Bryce Schroeder.
“I’m proud of our guys and our efforts this year,” said Flegal. “They (senior class) are a top-notch group and work very hard, but they are also going to be missed.”
Edon, who improved to 9-2 on the season, now faces a huge task on Friday when they travel to top-seed Lima Central Catholic (9-1), out of the Northwest Conference (NWC), in the regional quarterfinals at Lima Stadium.
Lima Central Catholic has outscored its opponents, 296-139, this season. Its only loss was to Columbus Grove, 33-25, in week nine.
The T-Birds are led by junior quarterback Brady Parker (6-3, 185), who has thrown for 1,423 yards on 90 of 138 attempts with 14 touchdowns. He also leads the team in rushing with 752 yards on 109 carries and nine scores.
Junior Michael Quatman (5-9, 140), who was a first-team NWC selection, leads the team with 38 catches for 580 yards and seven touchdowns. Sophomore running back Carter Lester has 393 yards rushing on 72 carries and six touchdowns.
EDG 7 7 7 0 – 21
EDON 7 0 7 14 – 28
EDON – Stantz 12-yd pass from Gallehue (de Souza Franca kick)
EDG – Sanchez 8-yd pass from Baker (P. Elden kick)
EDG – Gibson 31-yd pass from Sanchez (P. Elden kick)
EDON – Stantz 9-yd pass from Gallahue (de Souza Franca kick)
EDG – Sanchez 65-yd run (P. Elden kick)
EDON – Stantz 23-yd pass from Gallehue (de Souza Franca kick)
EDON – Gallehue 15-yd run (de Souza Franca)