This doesn’t count as a win on the football field for Palmer Ridge. But it’s a victory for the programs acquiring the Bears’ signees.

Six Palmer Ridge football players on Wednesday signed to continue their football careers next season during the Bears’ National Signing Day event at the school’s auditorium.

The class is led by Tyler Himebauch and Mike Toth, who both signed to play for Division I schools next fall. Himebauch will head to Boise State University in Boise, Idaho, while Toth will head to Indianapolis to play at Butler.

“Division I football has been my dream since I was a little kid,” Himebauch said. “Finally putting it all together and seeing it come true is so amazing and I’m so excited.”

Football is a part of Himebauch’s blood as his dad, Jonathan, had a stint in the NFL and the Xtreme Football League. Though Jonathan’s playing career occurred prior to Himebauch’s birth, the Bears senior soaked up any wisdom his dad offered and applied it on the field.

“One of the major things that he told me is that you have to keep a level head,” Himebauch said. “Continuing to play at this next level, something is inevitably going to go wrong and something bad is bound to happen. It’s about how you react and adapt from those moments that are most important.”

While Himebauch chose Boise State in late September, Toth’s decision came after the Bears’ 13-1 4A state runners-up season.

Toth announced on X his decision to choose Butler on Dec. 29 and said he selected the Bulldogs due to the program’s completeness.

“It’s a great academic school and that’s what I put before football,” Toth said. “It’s a Division I program with a great team and great level of academics. I love all the coaches there and I really built a good relationship with them and it felt like a family to me.”

During his visit, Toth spent time with Butler players and said that experience confirmed his decision.

“Any questions I had, they gave me their honest answer on what they thought about the school,” Toth said. “I really felt a connection there and that was a great experience.”

Brody Elliott, Jackson Mabe, Dylan Yanovich and Jake Coyle will also play football next season at Division II schools.

Elliott will compete at Pittsburg State in Pittsburg, Kan.; Mabe will head to Black Hills State in Spearfish, S.D.; Yanovich and Coyle will play at Fort Lewis in Durango.

Elliott finished the season second in tackles for the Bears with 70. Mabe led Palmer Ridge in rushing with 1,033 yards and 19 touchdowns. Yanovich, who primarily played offensive line, helped the Bears’ offense have 2,837 passing yards and 2,638 rushing yards on a team that averaged 398.9 all-purpose yards per game.

Coyle led the Bears’ defense with 10.5 tackles for loss and was third in tackles with 63. On offense, Coyle was the team’s third-leading rusher with 328 yards on 50 carries and was second in rushing touchdowns with eight.