Van-Far ended a long losing streak last year against Bowling Green, but this year’s meeting went differently.
The Indians lost 65-6 to their Eastern Missouri Conference rival on Friday at home after winning the Wagon Wheel game last year for the first time since 2005. Bowling Green (4-2) was dominant as it led 37-0 after the first quarter and 59-0 at halftime on Van-Far’s Homecoming game.
Bowling Green went in statistically stronger than last year, averaging around 44 points per game to almost double last year’s 24 points per game. Head coach Lucas Gibson said the Bobcats definitely improved, and Van-Far (1-5) has a younger and more inexperienced group this time.
“They got better, no doubt,” Gibson said. “Hats off to them. They got a good weight room program going down there. We’re young, injured and inexperienced still.”
Bowling Green scored four times on the first play from scrimmage while only being stopped twice by Van-Far’s defense. The Indians couldn’t push hard enough on offense to avoid negative yardage and had two turnovers turn into touchdowns in the first quarter.
“They outweigh us by about 1,000 pounds or probably 2,000 pounds on the line,” Gibson said. “There’s not a whole lot we can do there.”
Ronnie Stanich scored the only points for Van-Far with seconds left in the game after the second half was played with a running clock.
Gibson said Van-Far needs to focus on the positives and needs to focus on becoming a better team at 7 p.m. Friday at conference foe Wright City (2-4), who has won two straight games.
“I feel like we’re getting there,” Gibson said. “I just tell the kids to keep focusing on getting to districts and playing teams our size.”
The Homecoming court was recognized at halftime and included Adyson Barnett, Bryson Poindexter, Faith Griffith, Slade Keller, Elliott Utterback, Taneil Little, Mylee Keller, Garrett Hopke, Kenya Jones, Kashton Rhodes, Bryanna Stanich, Corbin Roed, Alexis Cagle and Cooper Sharp. Garrett Hopke and Mylee Keller were crowned as king and queen.
The night was also used to raise money for the medical bills of senior Kashton Rhodes (No. 7) as he continues his fight against thyroid cancer. $1900 was raised for the cause.
Read a full story about Kashton Rhodes in the Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026 edition of the Mexico Ledger.
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