By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
The Ellsworth Bearcats have been the epitome of steady over the last four years, following a pair of 8+ win seasons with 5-4 finishes in each of their last two campaigns.
Through all the ups and downs of graduation, youth, and injury, Ellsworth has maintained a steady drumbeat, and is primed and ready to get back to making postseason runs with another year of experience under their belts.
Josh Homolka returns to the sideline, entering his 10th year leading the Bearcats, with a 27-12 record in the last four years.
“We have the most guys we’ve had out in quite some time, and we’ve had a really great summer,” Homolka said. “I feel like we have a committed group that’s going in the right direction. Having success during the season certainly helps that participation, and these groups have had that.”
Homolka’s teams have always been known for their blue-collar approach to the game and toughness, traits that have not escaped the notice of those lining up against them on any given Friday.
“We always want our guys to embody mental and physical toughness and to do the right things simply because they’re the right things to do,” he said. “Physical and mental toughness is what we want to be known for on the field.”
With another year of experience behind him, Carson Jacobs will reprise his role as the Bearcat signal caller, hoping to take the next step and elevate an offense that avereged nearly 33 points per game in 2025.
“It’s always good to have a quarterback back and having Carson start as a sophomore was huge for us,” Homolka said. “He’s gotten bigger and stronger this offseason and he knows what we want to do on offense.”
Jacobs will be joined in the backfield by Bo Kyler and Rhett Bohl, who will have big shoes to fill in the absence of recent graduate Tucker Goss, who racked up 1,542 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground last season.
Jace Thomasson and Liam Stone return to lead the wideouts while an offensive line rotation anchored by Drew Davis battles in the trenches.
Both lines may look very different from kickoff to season’s end, but a strong group of new talent will give the Bearcats a number of different looks up front this season.
“We have a lot of capable guys but our offensive and defensive line and consistency there will be a question going into the season,” Homolka said. “I’m interested to see how many of those guys we’ll be able to use.”
Behind a D-Line led by Drew Davis and Valen Vague, Ellsworth returns a ton of experience with Rhett Bohl and Bo Kyler back at linebacker, and Jace Thomasson, Carson Jacobs, and Liam Stone returning to the secondary.
While consistent winning seasons are a feat all to themselves, the Bearcats have their sights set higher and believe they're ready to return to their former playoff form.
“I think the sky’s the limit for this team," Homolka said. "We want to make a deep playoff run, and I feel like we have the guys to go out and do that this year. There’s not a game on our schedule where I’m worried about our team showing up. I think we can compete with everyone we play.”
The Bearcats will open their 2026 campaign on September 4th when they host the Minneapolis Lions.
2026 Ellsworth Football Schedule
- 9/4 - vs. Minneapolis
- 9/11 - vs. Sacred Heart
- 9/18 - at SE of Saline
- 9/25 - at Russell
- 10/2 - at TMP
- 10/9 - vs. Beloit
- 10/16 - at Norton
- 10/23 - vs. Phillipsburg