PLAYOFF CLINCHER … Edon’s Kadin Stantz puts a stiff arm to the Montpelier tackler. With the win, the Bombers clinched a seventh straight playoff appearance.
PHOTOS BY REBEKAH DELL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
YARDS AFTER CATCH … Montpelier receiver Braylon Hopper looks for extra yards after making a catch with Edon’s Eli Dickmann (#7) going for the tackle.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
EDON – (October 24, 2025) With a berth in the Division VII state football playoffs at stake between Edon and Montpelier in the regular season finale, the Bombers managed to hold off the Locos for a 39-26 Toledo Area Athletic Conference victory.
Edon also clinched its seventh consecutive state playoff appearance, the last six trips under head coach Bob Olwin, whose squad improved to 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the TAAC, finishing runner-up behind TAAC champion Whiteford, Michigan, who blasted Ottawa Hills, 62-8, to finish at 7-0 in the conference standings.
“I think it’s something our community and our kids could be proud of and establish that kind of tradition to do so,” said Olwin. “We’re not Coldwater, Marion Local, or Liberty Center, but we’re striving to be like them.”
Both Edon and Montpelier will be competing in the Division VII, Region 26 playoffs on Friday night.
The Bombers, seeded eighth in the region, host Route 49 archrival Edgerton (6-4) in a rematch of the season opener in which the Bulldogs prevailed, 41-14. Montpelier, which is seeded 11th in the region, travels to sixth-seed Sycamore Mohawk (8-2) in a first-round matchup.
The Bombers forced a turnover on Montpelier’s initial offensive series when senior defensive lineman Danny Avila-Garcia recovered a fumble at the Edon 33-yard line.
Edon then drove 11 plays and 67 yards while also converting on three third-down plays during the drive. Quarterback Briggs Gallehue then scrambled from seven yards out for the touchdown at the 5:10 mark of the opening quarter. Joao Pedro de Souza Franca then booted the first of his four PAT kicks for a 7-0 lead.
“I thought we were opportunistic,” said Olwin. “From what we started with in week one with Edgerton to now, we’ve really improved a ton.
“All the kids have grown up, and we’re excited if we don’t shoot ourselves in the foot, we can put a lot of drives together and score with a lot of people.”
Montpelier (6-4, 5-2 TAAC) put together a lengthy 13-play, 90-yard drive after being pinned at its own 10-yard line following a 33-yard Edon punt.
The Locos completed just two passes for 17 yards on the drive, but on first-and-goal at the Edon 7-yard line, sophomore running back Carter Meek scored on a seven-yard run at the 6:28 mark. The PAT kick was no good, and Montpelier trailed 7-6.
Gallehue, who completed 20 of 27 passes for 258 yards on the night, connected with Kadin Stantz for a 29-yard completion to the Montpelier 47-yard line and then a 13-yarder to Kendol Brigle. Three plays later, Gallehue scored from 18 yards out and Edon led 14-6.
Montpelier answered back with an eight-play, 72-yard drive resulting in a 45-yard touchdown pass from Hayden Sharps to Jaxson Stahler with 47 seconds remaining until halftime.
Sharps then connected with Wesley Hartsock for the two-point conversion pass, and the game was tied at 14-14.
“He’s (de Souza Franca) our foreign exchange student and is a good kicker,” lauded Olwin. “I thought his field goal was big before halftime. It’s not too often that he gets a field goal.”
Just before halftime, the Bombers took the lead for good on a 22-yard field goal by de Souza Franca with no time remaining as Edon led 17-14 at intermission.
In the third quarter, Edon got a pair of touchdowns from Gauge Nester. The senior scored on a four-yard run at the 9:07 mark and then later caught a 27-yard TD pass from Gallehue as the Bombers had extended their lead to 32-14.
Montpelier took advantage of an interception by Xavier Eidenier at midfield. Despite a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct against the Locos, they were able to overcome it as Sharps found Hartsock on a 29-yard scoring strike to cut the Edon lead to 32-20.
Edon took advantage of another Montpelier fumble early in the fourth quarter at the Locos’ 13-yard line. Nester then scored his third touchdown of the game on a 13-yard run and gave the team a 39-20 advantage.
Hartsock scored from three yards out for Montpelier’s final touchdown, capping off a 12-play, 68-yard drive in the quarter.
“I thought we gave them a game, but we knew we couldn’t get into a shootout with them, and typically (Bob) Olwin wins in those shootouts,” said Montpelier head coach Andy Robinson.
“I thought we lost our heads a little bit in the second half with too many penalties. It’s unacceptable and it’s on me.”
Gallahue completed 19 of 27 passes for 258 yards, along with nine carries for 62 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Bombers.
Brigle hauled in eight passes for 107 yards while Nester tallied 54 yards rushing on 12 carries and caught three passes for 47 yards. Eli Dickmann had six catches for 58 yards, and Stantz had four catches for 47 yards.
Sharps was 17 of 31 for 218 yards through the air and a pair of TD passes, leading the Locomotives. Meek led the ground attack with 115 yards on 21 carries.
Hartsock caught seven passes for 68 yards, and Braylon Hopper had three catches for 69 yards. Montpelier outgained Edon, 424-375, in total offense.
MHS 0 14 0 12 – 26
EHS 7 10 15 7 – 39
E – Gallehue 7-yd run (de Souza Franca kick)
M – Meek 7-yd run (kick failed)
E – Gallehue 1- yd run (de Souza Franca kick)
M – Stahler 45-yd pass from Sharps (Hartsock pass from Sharps)
E – de Souza Franca 22-yd field goal
E – Nester 4-yd run (de Souza Franca kick)
E – Nester 27-yd pass from Gallehue (Nester run)
M – Hartsock 29-yd pass from Sharps (pass failed)
E – Nester 13-yd run (de Souza kick)
M – Hartsock 3-yd run (run failed)