Game of the Week: Elks Return Home to Face Winona

By Greg Ritchie

Messenger Reporter

ELKHART — After two weeks on the road, the Elkhart Elks will be back in front of the home crowd Friday, Sept. 18, with an opportunity to get back in the win column when Winona comes to town for The Messenger’s Game of the Week.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Elkhart enters the matchup at 1-2 after opening the season with an impressive 35-20 victory over Grapeland. The Elks then went on the road for back-to-back games, falling 36-28 to Anderson-Shiro before a 30-6 loss at Union Grove last week.

Friday’s game gives the Elks a chance to reset at home and build on some of the promise head coach Ryan Blackmon saw in his team before the season began.

“We’re excited about the year,” Blackmon told The Messenger before the season opener. “Offensively, we’re improving each week. Our defense has been playing a lot better than we did last year, flying around to the ball.”

That optimism showed quickly in the opener.

Elkhart’s offense produced 35 points against Grapeland, with running back Dalton Walker rushing for 248 yards and three touchdowns. Walker had been among the players Blackmon singled out before the season as someone to watch.

The Elks were also able to put 28 points on the board the following week against Anderson-Shiro before coming up eight points short.

Elkhart has scored 69 points through its first three games while allowing 86.

Winona arrives in Elkhart still searching for its first victory of the season.

The Wildcats are 0-3 after losses to Frankston, Overton and Hawkins. Winona has scored 39 points while allowing 183 through the opening three weeks.

Both programs compete in Class 3A Division II, although they will head into separate districts once district play begins. Friday’s meeting is a non-district contest.

For Elkhart, it also represents the first home game since the season-opening victory over Grapeland.

The Elks’ first three weeks have already provided a little of everything: an opening-night victory, a close road game at Anderson-Shiro and a difficult trip to Union Grove. Friday offers another opportunity for a team Blackmon described before the season as still growing into several positions after losing a number of starters from last year.

“We are plugging holes in some positions, but I feel really good about the returners that we did have coming back,” Blackmon said before the opener.

With district play still a few weeks away, the Elks have time to continue that process.

Following Friday’s game with Winona, Elkhart will travel to San Augustine on Friday, Sept. 25, for its final non-district contest. The Elks then have an open week before beginning District 11-3A Division II play at home against Mildred on Friday, Oct. 9.

For now, the attention turns back home, where Elkhart will look to recapture some of the momentum it found on opening night.

Elkhart and Winona kick off at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18.