G-E-T drops opener to Mondovi to begin Henken era

There was no easing into things for new Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau head football coach Dan Henken in the team’s first game, as the Red Hawks drew a formidable Mondovi squad with machinations of a trip to Camp Randall Stadium in November.

The Buffaloes (1-0) began what they hope is a quest for state championship glory with a dominant 41-6 victory over G-E-T (0-1) to open the season this past Friday in Galesville.

Mondovi made a run to the state semifinals a year ago with a relatively young team that brings most of its top playmakers back for 2026, making them one of the favorites in D6 to contend for a state title.

Junior quarterback Bode Falkner orchestrated the Buffaloes’ potent aerial attack by going 24 of 30 for 293 yards and three touchdowns in the win over G-E-T. Junior Beau Spindler nabbed six catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns while senior Deegahn Koenitzer made three receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown.

In the Mondovi run game, Cameron Gruber tallied two touchdowns while Falkner added one of his own.

The Red Hawks piled up 196 rushing yards on 7.3 yards per carry, led by senior Isaiah Carroll with 84 yards and a touchdown on four carries and senior Brode Eiken with 62 yards on his two rushes.

G-E-T senior quarterback Sawyer Foust attempted only four passes on the night, completing two of them for 30 yards while also being intercepted once. Defensively for the Red Hawks, sophomore Lachlan Daffinson recorded seven total tackles and senior Lucas Herman had six.

G-E-T takes another crack and picking up their first win under Henken when they go on the road to face Sparta on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Memorial Field. The Spartans (1-0) knocked off Black River Falls 40-24 in their season opener last week.