Winnebago upsets Pender

The Winnebago Football team won 60-42 at home over Pender on Friday for their first win of the season.

The Indians gave up 457 yards of offense, including 288 rushing.

Head Coach Adam James says it was a great win. "It was great to get a W in that win column. Pender is a well coached team and we did a great job executing in all aspects of the game."

James adds scoring on offense, defense, and special teams made a difference. "We were able to win all aspects of the game Friday night. We played hard on the defensive side of the ball coming up with some great turnovers at critical times in the game. Inducing a late pick 6. Our special teams were very good, including a kick return for a TD in the first quarter. Our Offense had 440 yards of total offense. TJ Frenchman was the leader in passing and rushing yards. He was 7-13 for 150 passing and one TD and rushed the ball 24 times for 197 yards and 5 TD's. Lance Denney had 104 receiving yards on the day."

Winnebago (1-4) travels to Omaha Nation (1-5) to take on the Chiefs Friday night.

Omaha Nation lost 50-6 at Homer this past Friday night, the same Homer team that Pender beat 46-40.

It should be another win for the Indians. James says his squad has to limit turnovers and play well on both sides of the ball to come out on top. "We need to continue to execute on all sides of the ball. One thing we need to work on this week is ball control. We had too many turnovers in the Pender game."

I look for Winnebago's defense to play well in this game, especially considering Omaha Nation has been held to single digits every game except one.

The Indians go to GACC in two weeks, and that figures to be a very pivotal District Game.

James says it would be a big accomplishment to win two in a row heading into that contest. "It would be great momentum headed into a really big game for us against a Nebraska power house. They have been a great team for a long time. Ridder and GACC know how to win. We need all the momentum we can going into this game."

Winnebago had two weeks to prepare for Pender, and had a great game plan, and executed it.

The Indians can't overlook the Chiefs by any means, but the GACC game is huge and could be for all the marbles.

The Indians are right in the district race right now. Very huge accomplishment for this program.

Everyone, including me, thought the district would come down to GACC and Pender. Well it most likely won't now.

Winnebago has put themselves in a position to compete in and win this district.

The Indians should be able to beat Omaha Nation and Homer, and if they can upset the Bluejays, the district crown would be theirs.

It will be very difficult for Winnebago to upset GACC, but the Indians have to dream big and believe that the sky is the limit.

Winnebago might have to play better defense than they did against the Pendragons to upset the Bluejays, but the Indians definitely showed they can play great offense, good special teams, and have the ability to create turnovers.

Winnebago has to keep playing well and enjoy this high and ride they are on right now.

This is the highlight of the Indians' season thus far. Winnebago has to keep the good times and magic going as long as they possibly can.

A win over Omaha Nation would allow the good times to roll, in my opinion.