Chanticleers Open Season With 47-20 Win Over Central City
The Ord Chanticleers impressively opened the 2026 football season Friday night, defeating Central City 47-20 at home. Ord got off to a fast start, taking a 13-0 first-quarter lead behind touchdown runs from Beau Wells and Jordan Williams. Central City answered and eventually took a 14-13 lead early in the second quarter, but the Chanticleers responded immediately. Williams scored on a 24-yard run and later returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown, giving Ord a 26-14 lead at halftime.
The Chanticleers continued to build momentum in the third quarter. Wells returned a punt 66 yards for a touchdown and later added a 10-yard touchdown run, helping Ord extend its lead to 40-14. Central City added one more score in the third, but Ord closed out the game with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Wells in the fourth quarter.
Ord finished with 370 yards of total offense, including 226 yards rushing and 144 yards passing. Williams completed 8 of 12 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 113 yards and two scores. Wells had a big night as well, finishing with 85 rushing yards, 89 receiving yards, three offensive touchdowns and the punt return touchdown.
Defensively, the Chanticleers came up with several big plays. Williams and Evan Lane each recorded an interception; Beau Shafer, Knox Nelson, Howard Winklebauer, Miles Hulinsky, Jaydon Trejo, and Calvin Thomsen led the team with tackles for loss and tackles, and Ord was able to hold Central City to 278 total yards. Despite turning the ball over three times, the Chanticleers were able to overcome those mistakes with explosive plays on offense, defense and special teams.
The win gives Ord a 1-0 start to the season and a solid foundation to build on as the Chanticleers continue to improve each week. The Chanticleers will be on the road to play the O’Neill Eagles on Friday at 7:00 p.m.
Game Leaders
Ord Chanticleers
● Passing: J. Williams - 8/12, 110 Yds, 1 Td, 1 Int
● Rushing: J. Williams - 15 Att, 113 Yds, 2 TD, B. Wells - 11 Att, 85 Yds, 2 TD, C. Thomsen -
9 Att, 26 Yds, K. Whited - 1 Att, 2 Yds, J. Dorenbach - 2 Att, 1 Fum
● Receiving: B. Wells - 6 Rec, 89 Yds, 1 Td, 1 Fum, K. Nelson - 3 Rec, 55 Yds
● Tackling: J. Williams - 8 Tkls, 1 Tkl, 1 Int, E. Lane - 5 Tkls, 1 Int, C. Thomsen - 7 Tkls, J.
Trejo - 6 Tkls, K. Nelson - 5 Tkls, 1 Sck, 2 Tkl, B. Shafer - 11 Tkls, H. Winkelbauer - 4 Tkls, 2
Tkl
● Kicking: N. Woodward - 3/6 Pat