Between the two programs, they hold the distinction of representing 9-Man Section 1A at state every year since 2010. Included are a combined six state titles. When Grand Meadow and Spring Grove football hook up, it’s a big game. The 2020 incarnation mainly did one thing that was already generally known; defending section champ #6 in Man GM is, if not a team, the team to beat in the section again this season. It all started quickly. Their first offensive play was a 67-yard Dusty Copley TD run for a 7-0 lead. Late in the quarter, a 9-play drive was capped when Evan Oehlke hit Blake Ludemann for a wide-open 3-yard TD pass and catch (on 4th and goal). The lead grew to 13-0. The drive was eight run plays by four different runners (none named Copley) up until the TD pass. After a Lion fumble late in the second quarter, GM scored again. A six-play drive was capped by a Daniel Smith 1-yard TD plunge. At the half, Gary Sloan’s Larks led Kody Moore’s Lions 19-0. To begin the second half, Luke Speer returned the opening kick-off 50 yards to the Lions 30. Copley then authored his second one-playdrive-TD (30-yard TD run). The Larks grabbed command 26-0. They added a 14-play, 68-yard scoring drive later in the quarter (Oehlke 5-yard TD run). Copley authored his third TD run of the game early in the fourth quarter (10 yards). SG finally got on the board via a 28-yard Isaac Griffin to Tysen Grinde TD pass. By a final of 40-6, GM got the win. Copley (17-155, 3 TDs) paced a GM rushing attack that ran for 346 yards on 54 carries (6.4 YPC). Smith (11-66, TD rushing), Oehlke (13-50, TD rushing; 5-8, 24 yards, TD, INT passing) and Taylor Glynn (4-38 rushing, 10-yard reception) all had 48-plus yards total offense. Meanwhile, the Lark defense held SG to 125 total offense including just 61 yards on 19 carries. The Lions were 0-7 on third down and had six total fumbles (losing three). GM was 7 of 12 on third down. Griffin (10-40 rushing, 8-18, 64 yards, TD passing, defensive interception) and Caden Grinde (16 tackles, fumble recovery) led SG. The Larks improved to 2-0. SG fell to 1-1.
