LeBlond’s resurgence tested: Golden Eagles face toughest challenge yet in homecoming clash

By Calvin Silvers

The No.4-ranked Bishop LeBlond Golden Eagles soar into Week 5 with an impressive 4-0 record, but this week presents their toughest challenge yet, gearing up to face the defending 8-Man state champions and top-ranked Archie Whirlwinds, who are hungry to maintain their reign of dominance.

As the Whirlwinds roll into town, they’ll be met by an electric homecoming crowd, ready to rally behind their Golden Eagles.

“The last four years we’ve played and we’ve never beat Archie, twice we’ve been scheduled for their homecoming,” senior Jacob Winkelbauer said. “So we said, ‘why not, we’re going to schedule them for ours and see how they like it,’ so we’re expecting a win out here.”

LeBlond is riding high after a commanding 60-12 victory over their rivals, the Plattsburg Tigers, last week. Remarkably, they’ve already matched last year’s win total in just four games, showcasing their remarkable turnaround.

This resurgence is fueled by a combination of increased size on the roster and strategic shifts in their offensive schemes, breathing new life into the Eagles’ program.

“I think our confidence right now is high, our kids are playing at a high level,” head coach Chuck Davis said. “I think they’re excited about the challenge, so there is some buzz hovering around the number one team coming in here and giving us a good game Friday, but I think they’re excited to rise to the challenge.”

As mentioned, it’s homecoming for the Golden Eagles, a time that can sometimes lead to distractions beyond the football field. However, Davis is fortunate to have a determined group of seniors who are laser-focused on their ultimate goal, returning to the state championship.

These seasoned leaders understand the stakes and are eager to channel the energy of homecoming into their performance on the field.

“Leave the festivities outside of football. I do think it helps that there are kids out here that have played in high level postseason games and they’d like to experience that again,” Davis said. “They help keep the younger kids focused for us.”

With this matchup marking the biggest challenge LeBlond has faced so far, confidence is soaring among the players. this game will serve as a true test of their resilience, revealing just how far this team has come.

“We’re the top-ranked team in the district, so going into districts, had we not had the opportunity to play the number one team in the state, we might get surprised down the road,” Davis said. “So playing the number one team in the state right now shows us this is what the top looks like.”

At the end of the day, these two teams are among the elite in 8-Man football, rankings aside. despite their confidence, LeBlond embraces that underdog mentality, which can be a potent weapon.

“Rankings don’t really matter much. I mean, it’s just how we play against them,” senior Christian Anderson said. “We’re very excited. I mean, plus, it gives us the underdog mentality that we’re going to come out and, you know, battle them. It’s David versus Goliath.”