Staff Photo by Jake Olson Granada Huntley East Chain/Truman quarterback Reagan Emmert hands the ball off to running back Brody Grathwohl during the first quarter of Wednesday night's contest against Nicollet in Granada. The Jaguars took down the Raiders 62-16.

GRANADA – Head coach Alex Roorda and his Granada Huntley East Chain/Truman football team finished their 2025 regular season on a high note on Wednesday night, securing a 62-16 victory over Nicollet while dominating on both sides of the ball for all four quarters.

“I think we played a really good game,” Roorda said. “Defensively, we were stout and stopped them until it got into the second half. Coach Petschke did a really great job. Offensively, we knew that we could run the ball, so that’s what we wanted to do this week. It was a good time.”

A quick three-and-out from Nicollet gave the Jaguars the ball on the 50-yard line, ready to pounce on their opponent early. Quarterback Reagan Emmert connected with Bowan Sill for an early 15-yard reception that immediately brought the drive into Raider territory.

“We just wanted to control the game and control the ball,” Roorda said. “When we got a couple of opportunities to throw it deep, you’ve got to take it.”

The Emmert and Sill connection remained true five plays later, as the quarterback connected with the speedy sophomore for a 2nd and goal bubble screen touchdown to draw first blood.

GHEC/T’s next drive again started at the 50-yard line and resulted in the same outcome. This time, it was Emmert doing it with his legs. The senior wiggled through a handful of white jerseys before waltzing into the endzone, making it a two-score game with the first quarter nearing completion.

Another turnover on downs forced by the Jaguar defense gave Roorda’s offense another opportunity to score in favorable field position.

After a catch from Keagan Berhow moved the chains, Emmert found wide receiver Griffin Studer on another bubble screen to the outside. Studer weaved his way through some weak Raider tackle attempts before crossing the left side of the field and finding the endzone, starting the second quarter with a now extended lead of 20-0.

The Raiders were able to force a Jaguar punt after going three and out themselves on the prior possession. On 3rd and 2, running back Talan Osborne found a crease on the right side of the field that brought his offense down to the GHEC/T 15-yard line.

But that was the farthest the Raiders could muster.

Following a gain of one on Osborne’s next rushing attempt, Berhow zapped through the Raider offensive line to pick up his second sack of the game, pushing Nicollet further and further from the endzone.

Quarterback Abram Madson failed to connect with Henry Kennedy on a challenging 4th and 17 two plays later, giving the Jaguars’ defense yet another turnover on the evening.

“We switched it up a little this week, playing a lot faster of a defense, which was fun,” Roorda said. “We just had to make sure we kept the quarterback and running back, number 44 [Talan Osborne] is really good. We just knew if we could stop his run game, we could stop these guys.”

It took no time for GHEC/T to take advantage of their strong defensive performance. Emmert found Sill again on another quick bubble screen to the right. Sill used his natural speed and agility to scream down the sideline and finish the run celebrating in the end zone.

An Emmert interception on the Jaguars’ next possession quickly gave the ball back to Nicollet with just under a minute to go in the half. However, GHEC/T was able to take advantage of their opponent’s mistake the very next play.

A bobbled snap from Madson put the ball right into the hands of defensive lineman Luke Jostad deep into Raider territory. Two plays later, fans saw Emmert use his feet once more for another Jaguar score, whizzing his way down the left sideline as the halftime horn sounded off.

Despite a failed two-point conversion attempt from Zander Johnson, Roorda and his team walked into the halftime break with a comfortable 34-0 cushion.

The first possession of the second half was everything but a touchdown for the Jaguars. Receiving an onside kick attempt at midfield, Emmert and Brody Grathwohl used a pair of powerful runs to churn the offense inside the 10-yard line.

But the Jaguars were ultimately unable to convert, bobbling a snap on fourth-and-5 and handing the ball back to Nicollet.

Instead of punting the ball, the Raiders put their faith into Madson to convert on a 4th and 5 play with their backs facing the endzone. Madson was unable to connect with wide receiver Colton Rengstorf while scrambling to his left, turning the ball over on downs yet again for the Nicollet offense.

Grathwohl was able to finish things off with a 2-yard touchdown run to take advantage of the favorable field position.

Emmert continued to show his dominance on the gridiron on the very next possession for Nicollet. Backed up again on their own 15-yard line, Madson tried to thread a couple of Jaguar defenders after escaping yet another aggressive pass rush.

The ball fell directly into the hands of Emmert, who took the play all the way into the endzone to put the early finishing touches on the contest with seven minutes to play in the third quarter.

“We talked to them at halftime, telling the seniors that they get one more chance to get it right, and they did great,” Roorda said. “Reagan had that pick six, which was pretty good.”

GHEC/T extended their lead further on the next possession after quarterback Brock Steinbrink found Elijah Jensen deep over the middle for another explosive scoring play.

Finally, freshman Kamden Schwebke finished things off on the evening with a touchdown run of his own late in the fourth quarter. After stringing together four consecutive rushing attempts in a goal-to-go situation, the freshman finally passed the pile-on for GHEC/T’s 62nd point of the night.

“The biggest thing is that we are clicking at the right time,” Roorda said. “I am excited for the playoffs. We will find out who we got tomorrow, and just roll into wherever we go to do what we do.”