Football: #2 Lions Turn Back Burro Upset Bid, 13-8

State-ranked #2 Spring Grove roared down the field on the game’s first possession for a 7-0 lead. That score held into the fourth quarter as the undefeated Lions (3-0, 4-0) warded off winless Lanesboro (0-2, 0-3) by 13-8 final. The Burros also appeared potent on their first possession, surging to the one-yard line before a 15-yard penalty on the bench made it third down and goal from the 16. Two incomplete passes later, Spring Grove took the ball on downs. Most of the game was played in Lion territory. The Burros never punted and had their first five possessions (six of eight total series) end on downs. That first Lion scoring possession featured a 26-yard reverse scamper by Braedon Solie and a leaping, 19-yard TD reception by Zach Brumm in the back of the end zone. Following a 26-yard interception return by Brumm, Berns scored on a four-yard run for a 13-0 lead with 8:23 to play. That breathing room was short lived. Just four plays later, Lanesboro finally came up with a big play when Mason Howard hit a wide-open Cole Sass with a 35-yard pass. On the next play Sass ran across the goal line from four yards out and then Howard hit Sass with a two-point pass to make it 13-8 (6:33). The Lions came right back with Jacob Olerud taking a handoff for 27 yards and then gaining 26 yards on a short pass. But at the eight yard-line, Grove fumbled away the opportunity to put the game away. With another chance, Lanesboro used 10-plays to earn two first downs before running out of downs again with 2:47 to play. Grove then earned a pair of first downs to run out the clock. Lanesboro controlled the clock with 62 offensive plays to only 46 for Spring Grove, but the Lions held a 242 to 216 edge in total yardage. The Burros came up with only the one big pass play and a 55-yard kickoff return by Sass that established field position for the second half. Howard faced a consistent pass rush (8 of 26, 101 yards, INT passing). Kaden Stettler caught six passes (58 yards) and recovered both Lion fumbles. Olerud (12-77 rushing), Berns (7-15, 83 yards, TD passing, 12-55, TD rushing), and Brumm (3-39, TD receiving) led SG.