The Ely Timberwolves have already picked up a key victory and a bit of a loss in the numbers game that often defines high school football.
When the Wolves take the field for Thursday’s season-opener at Barnum, they’ll do so with their largest roster in several years.
But while Ely has 34 players on its varsity team that encompasses grades 9-12, there are also concerns about the future of Timberwolves football - given the cancellation of the junior high season when only seven players turned out in grades 7-8.
Yet in the present, hopes are higher than in several seasons for Ely football.
Several key players are back off a team that gained valuable experience and picked up a couple of wins in 2025, and head coach Louie Gerzin is hopeful his group will take the next step.
“I think for us last year we beat the teams that were at our competition level, and I’m hoping this year the goal for our program is to compete with that next level of teams, like Cherry, Deer River, Mt. Iron and International Falls,” said Gerzin.
Gerzin figures the Wolves will be better on offense, with a backfield headed by two players who came on strong in 2025 - senior Sean Merriman and Arturo Cameron.
“I think our strength will be running the ball with our skill position athletes,” said Gerzin.
Merriman and Cameron both had solid outings last year, particularly in the last half of the season and they’ll be joined in the backfield by three others who could make an impact - seniors Cyle Merhar, Owen Marolt and Tyde Brecke.
Back to direct the offense is sophomore signal-caller DJ Johnson, who moved into the starting quarterback position as a freshman.
Up front, sophomore Jackson Jones is part of a returning corps of linemen that also includes returning starters Leo McKrahl, Emmett Boes and Lucas Stalboerger. Ely also stands to get a boost from senior Max Brandriet, a two-way starter at tight end and defensive end.
If the Wolves are going to improve on their win total from 2025 and come close to the .500 mark, they’ll have to do a better job of containing opposing offense.
Ely yielded a whopping 362 points last fall and that total must be slashed to be more competitive week in and week out.
Many of the offensive starters will also contribute on defense but the growth in numbers figures to help all around.
Sophomore Parker Niskala steps into a starting role at defensive tackle while sophomores Kooper and Kasen Dostert will both play significantly on defense.
The Wolves will also have far more depth than they’ve had in at any time in Gerzin’s six-year tenure.
“It’s really helped in practice,” he said. “We can run two offenses and two defenses or have an offensive team work against a scout team. This has also made guys work harder as there’s more competition for positions.”
The Wolves remain classified as a Class AA program, with cooperative agreements with both Northeast Range and Vermilion Country School pushing them to a higher level.
The schedule, however, includes seven Class A opponents among the eight games.
Ely gets no favor from the schedule makers, however, opening up against a tough Barnum team that blew the Wolves out 48-0.
The contest is on Thursday instead of the traditional Friday night and is away from home.
Ely’s first appearance at Ely School Stadium is Sept. 11 against International Falls, and it’s the first of three straight home games.
Homecoming is set for Sept. 18 against Mt. Iron-Buhl and the docket includes an Oct. 16 home contest in Babbitt, against East Central.
