.jpg)
WINSIDE — Randolph’s late-season momentum came to a halt Friday night as Winside capitalized on big plays to hand the Cardinals a 32-20 loss in the regular-season finale.
The defeat snapped Randolph’s two-game winning streak and ended its 2025 campaign at 2-6. The Wildcats improved to 5-3 and earned a berth in the Class D-2 state playoffs.
“It was a tough, hard-fought game,” said Randolph coach Mark Lech. “I was proud of the way we battled through the entire game. We were in it until the middle of the fourth quarter, but the kids never gave up.”
Winside opened the scoring with a 50-yard punt return, but Randolph’s Ryan Engel immediately struck back, taking the ensuing kickoff 70 yards to the end zone. Milo Rayford powered in for the conversion to knot the game 8-8 after one quarter.
The Wildcats surged ahead in the second quarter with touchdown runs of 16 and 63 yards before Engel answered again — this time on a 23-yard scoring dash that trimmed the deficit to 20-14. Winside tacked on another short touchdown before halftime, then added a 10-yard run early in the third to stretch the lead to 32-14.
Engel connected with Rayford on a 30-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to close the gap, but the Cardinals couldn’t pull any closer.
Engel turned in a strong allaround performance, completing 6-of-10 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown while rushing 17 times for 78 yards and another score. He also had the long kickoff return for a touchdown.
Rayford carried the ball 17 times for 58 yards, caught two passes for 28 yards and a score, and added the early conversion run.
Luke Harder, the Cardinals’ lone senior, hauled in two passes for 37 yards and added a sack on defense.
“Luke was the one senior who stuck it out all year, and I believe he played the best game of his career,” Lech said. “We’ll miss him next year, but we’re excited about taking the next step as a team.”
Owen Junck led the defensive charge with 22 tackles and two sacks, while Cole Jensen matched him with 22 tackles. Engel and Jaylen Junck each intercepted a pass, and Ty Sievers recovered a fumble.
“It was one of the more physical games of the year,” Lech said. “It was great to see the kids compete until the end.”
RAN (2-6) 8 6 0 6 — 20 WIN (5-3) 8 18 6 0 — 32 First Quarter W: Jaheim Hamik 50 punt return (run by Matt Gubbels), 0-8 R: Engel 70 kickoff return (run by Rayford), 8-8 Second Quarter W: Gubbels 16 run (run failed), 8-14 W: Jayden Aschoff 63 run (run failed), 8-20 R: Engel 23 run (run failed), 14-20 W: Gubbels 3 run (run failed), 14-26 Third Quarter W: Gubbels 10 run (run failed), 14-32 Fourth Quarter R: Rayford 30 pass from Engel (run failed), 20-32 Randolph Statistics Rushing yards: 39-159 Receiving yards: 6-71 Total yards: 230
Passing: Engel 6-10, 71 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Engel17-781TD;Rayford17-58; Brodersen 3-12; J. Junck 1-9; Bermel 1-2
Receiving: Harder 2-37; Rayford 2-28 1 TD; Brodersen 1-4; Bermel 1-2
Defensive leaders: O. Junck 22 (2 sacks); Jensen 22; Brodersen 10; E. Bermel 10; Engel 6 (INT); J. Junck 2 (INT); Harder 1 (sack); Sievers 3 (FR); Bonczynski 5; Meyer 1
