PREP FOOTBALL: E/E rises and shines

MINNEAPOLIS — Ask any parent about waking up a teenager and they’ll most likely respond by rolling their eyes and/or use the words “lazy” and “bum”.

Edgerton/Ellsworth coach Andrew Fleischman was responsible for waking up 35 teenagers — before 7 a.m — to run.

In order to get ready for E/E’s 8 a.m. semifinal game Friday at the Metrodome, the Flying Dutchmen reported to Edgerton’s gym at 6:45 a.m. Monday through Thursday of this week and ran from 7 to 8 a.m. before school.

“I think they were more excited and awake (for the game) than the coaches,” Fleischman said.

All parents of the E/E football team will be happy to know their child did not whine at all about the early mornings. Feel free to use that in future ventures when waking them up, perhaps for yard work or other chores.

“We didn’t have to talk them into it,” Fleischman said. “They knew what was on the line and they basically said they’d do anything it takes to get it done.”

E/E was wide awake during the team’s 48-20 shellacking of Ada-Borup, setting up a date in the Class 9-man state title game Friday at 10 a.m. at the Metrodome.

“We got up early this week, we did our work and we got used to it,” E/E wide receiver Casey Schilling said. “We were awake and ready to go.”

Apparently no one needed to tell Schilling and quarterback Isaac Heard to rise and shine because they did that on their own right out of the gates.

One dropped pass was the only scratch on an otherwise perfect first half for Heard, as he was 14 for 15 with 235 yards and two touchdowns through the air, with 114 of those yards and one of those end zone visits going to Schilling.

Heard was a huge reason E/E may be having some early wake-up calls again next week. It’s an alarm the Flying Dutchmen are more than willing to wake up to.

“I’m sure we’ll have to get up at six in the morning again, even though our game is at 10,” Heard said. “I’m willing to have Thanksgiving supper (in Minneapolis).

“Whatever we have to do.”

Tags: edgerton ellsworth, sports, prep, football