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The Elgin Wildcats' historic football season ended abruptly with a 76-0 loss to the Randle Lions in the second round of the playoffs Friday, Nov. 22.
Though the defeat was a tough one, the Wildcats have plenty to celebrate, including their first playoff victory in a decade. Elgin secured a dominant 44-16 win Nov. 15 over Jefferson, marking a milestone for the program. Head Coach Heath Clawson emphasized the significance of the achievement and its impact on the team’s future.
“We set a goal as a program that when we’re done this year, we’re going to finish off a playoff run,” Clawson said. “It’s amazing for our program and community to say, ‘Look, we’re not just hoping to make the playoffs — we’re going to win playoff games.’ You have to start somewhere if you want to be a perennial playoff team.”
The Wildcats’ journey this season was a story of resilience. After starting the year 0-3 with losses to Hays, Anderson and Montgomery, outscored by a combined 83 points, the team appeared to be in trouble. The offense struggled, averaging just 22 points per game during the opening stretch.
The turning point for the Wildcats came after the Montgomery loss, when the team refocused in practice ahead of their district opener against McCallum, according to Clawson.
“We had to practice better,” Clawson said. “That was the big thing when district play started. We told the team, ‘If we have a good week of practice, we’re going to win this game,’ and we had probably the best practice since I’ve been here.”
That preparation paid off as Elgin defeated Mc-Callum 50-26, igniting a 5-2 district run, including a nail-biting 38-35 victory over Pflugerville.
During this streak, the Wildcats’ offense found its stride, averaging 50 points per game. Sophomore quarterback Dylan Owens played a pivotal role, finishing the season with over 2,000 total yards and 29 touchdowns. Clawson praised Owens’ growth after being thrust into a challenging start to the season.
“It’s hard to play quarterback,” Clawson added. “He grew a lot from those first three games. We knew we had to throw him in the fire to get that experience, and it helped him down the line. He made some big plays for us along the way.”
Looking ahead, the Wildcats are optimistic about building on their success. Owens will return to lead the offense, and while the team will need to fill some key spots, they retain a strong core of talent. With this year’s progress as a foundation, Elgin hopes to make an even deeper postseason run in 2025, according to the head coach.
