ELGIN — The pads have been put away and the 2026 Wolfpack football season has come to an end.
It came to an end with a shutout loss to Twin Loup on a Friday night at Sargent. It marked the end of the playing careers of four Wolfpack seniors. Completing their careers on the field were Michael Selting, Justice Blecher and Brayden Burenheide. Looking on from the sideline injured and unable to play was Gavin Kallhoff.
A look back at the season saw the Wolfpack post a record of three victories and six losses. Co-coaches Nick Heithoff and Matt Euse guided the Wolfpack to victories over Chambers/Wheeler Central, North Central and Palmer. Losses came against Central Valley, Boyd County, Wynot, Burwell, Guardian Angels Central Catholic and Twin Loup.
At times, facing opponents they matched up well against, the Wolfpack dominated play on the field. Behind the blocking of Blecher, Burenheide and sophomore Jayvin Erickson, the Wolfpack rushed for an average of 148 yards per game.
Four players rushed for over 200 yards during the season, led by Kallhoff with 280 yards. Others with over 200 yards were Michael Selting 242, Joseph McNally 227 and Evin Pelster 278.
Wolfpack quarterbacks completed 43 percent of their pass attempts, many coming in the latter stages of the game when the Wolfpack were trailing on the scoreboard. Selting completed 41 of 97 pass attempts with seven touchdowns and six interceptions.
The top pass-catching threat on the Wolfpack roster was junior Max Henn. Often the tallest player on the field, Henn caught 18 passes for 220 yards, an average of 12.2 yards per catch. He hauled in six touchdown receptions during the season. The Wolfpack were hurt by fumbles during the season. They fumbled six times, losing five.
On defense, the Wolfpack were led in tackles by Henn who had 38 solo tackles and 34 assists for a team-high total of 72. Others with 40 or more tackles were Ethan Hansen 48, Kallhoff 46, Pelster 64, Blecher 40 and Erickson 41.
Erickson and Henn tied for the team-high in tackles for loss with eight apiece.
EPPJ had six interceptions during the season, led by Selting with three, Henn with two and Pelster had one.
Raaf Klein had the team’s lone blocked punt, McNally had the team’s only blocked field goal during the season.
Playing in Class D3, the Wolfpack played nine regular season games.
