Von Isenbart was once again a thorn in the side of Cheyenne Wells’ football team this past Friday night.

The Stratton senior made it fully count this time, however.

In a rematch of last year’s 6-man state championship won by the Tigers, the Eagles got their 2025 season off on the right foot with a dominant, 50-22 win on their home field — pulling away in the second quarter to further solidify their preseason No. 1 ranking from Colorado Preps.

At the center of it was the senior Isenbart. He threw a trio of touchdown passes, including one while in the grasp of a Cheyenne Wells defender right before his knee hit the ground, and also was a force defensively with two interceptions and a forced fumble.

Last year in the championship tilt, Isenbart accounted for 124 yards and two scores, while also registering a sack. All for naught, as CWHS won the game 50-27.

This season, early indications are that Judson Isenbart is going to be a favorite target of Von, after the sophomore hauled in six receptions for 58 yards and two scores.

The Eagles, no strangers to the state title game having appeared in each of the past eight (several as Stratton/Liberty), are in excellent position despite having just three seniors — Von Isenbart, Grady Steerman and Haxden Mills. Juniors Drew Fox, Austin Weickum and Gavin Ruhs are looking to carry the torch, as well.

The Eagles travel to play Genoa-Hugo later Thursday, and then have games against No. 7 Caliche and No. 2 Idalia before the month ends.

Below are some other must-see games of the week.

Class 2A

University at Brush, 7 p.m., Friday: Brush hadn’t won a season opener since 2021 but took care of Fort Morgan 28-20 last Friday. The Beetdiggers face a formidable pass attack with University’s Max Davis at the helm — the junior Davis tossed four touchdowns last week in a win against Banning Lewis.

Class 1A

Yuma vs. North Fork, 6 p.m., Friday: The teams play a meet-me-in-the-middle affair at Clear Creek High with both teams looking to start 2-0. North Fork amassed 332 rushing yards in a 47-6 win against Center last week. The Miners will face an Outlaws team that held Chase County (Neb.) to minus-19 yards on the ground last week.

8-man

Merino at McClave, 7 p.m., Friday: These two teams have some bitter rivalries across several sports, and they’re 2-2 against each other over the past four meetings (historical trends show it’s Merino’s year to be victorious). McClave sophomore Drew Howe has 202 passing yards and 177 rushing yards in the Cardinals’ 2-0 start. Merino scratched past Crowley County last week, 28-22.

6-man

Caliche at Peetz, 7:30 p.m., Friday: Peetz secured a nice result last week against Potter-Dix (Neb.), with junior Dylan Wagner’s 160 rushing yards and three touchdowns pacing the Bulldogs’ season-opening win. Caliche, meanwhile, opened its season with a 56-0 drubbing of North Park. Last year, these teams played for the first time in the MaxPreps era and battled close.