Rebuild Year For Football Program Ends Friday In Bayard

The Kimball Longhorns travel to Bayard on Friday, Oct. 13, for a matchup of football teams tied for third place with 1-2 records in D1 District 11. Both teams are 2-5 overall entering this 2023 season finale.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Kimball has dropped two straight and scored 140 points and allowed 358 on the season. Bayard has lost three straight and scored 232 points and allowed 291 on the season.

The Tigers came up short last week, 36-34, in a non-league game against Cambridge, while the Horns lost to visiting Heminford, 64-6.

Kimball jumped out to a 6-0 lead on a 59-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Ryker Behrend to senior tight end Brandon Paxton in the first quarter, but Hemingford rolled to victory after that.

"I am really proud of the improvements the boys have made this year," coach Darrell Howitt told the Observer. "We still have a ways to go, but we are young and if we continue to develop as a program we have a lot to look forward to.

"I am especially proud of the three seniors that really set the tone for the improvements we have made. I hope that we can honor their commitment by continuing to grow. Bayard will be a solid opponent Friday night. I hope we can play to the best of our abilities and wrap up our season on a positive note."

The Longhhorns gained 190 yards on offense, 143 passing and 47 rushing against Hemingford. The Bobcats ground game was dominant, accounting for 334 of the team's offensive yards.

In district standings, Bridgeport occupies first with a 4-0 record, Hemingford is second at 2-1, Kimball and Bayard are third at 1-2 and Morrill is fifth at 0-3.

Junior High Note: In last week's battle against Bayard, the young Longhorns won 12-6 with a gritty performance.