Superlark standout Dustin Copley scored on his team’s first play of the game and again on the Larks’ first snap of the second half. But the Grand Meadow defense did not need much help during a dominating 40-6 victory over visiting Spring Grove on a cold October 16 night.
The Lion attack was limited to only 125 yards, most of which (84 yards) were coming late against Superlark reserves. A 26-yard burst by Reid Bjerke set up a 15-yard touchdown pass from Isaac Griffin to Tysen Grinde with 7:25 remaining. For the night, Griffin completed 8 of 18 passes (64 yards) to five different receivers.
While Spring Grove (1-1, 1-1 sub-district) lost three of six fumbles, the Lions were able to force two GM turnovers. Elijah Solum forced a first-quarter fumble, recovered by Tysen Grinde. Griffin picked off a fourth-down pass in the Spring Grove end zone to thwart a 64-yard Lark drive, but the Lions fumbled the ball back on the next play. GM needed to go only 27 yards to make it 19-0 when Daniel Smith carried for the final two yards just about three minutes before halftime.
The second half began with a 57-yard kickoff return by Luke Sneed. On the next play, Copley carried the final 25 yards. Taylor Glynn hit Smith with a 2-point pass, and it was 27-0 just 17 seconds into the second half. Copley, who had raced 67 yards for the Larks’ first touchdown, would add a 10-yard TD run (40-0) for his team’s final points. He finished with those three touchdowns while running for 151 yards on 16 carries.
Superlark veteran signal-caller Evan Oehlke completed 4 of only 7 passes, including a fourth-down, 4-yard TD toss to Blake Ludemann that made it 13-0 late in the first quarter. Later the senior capped a 14-play, 69-yard drive with a 5-yard TD run (34-0). Oehlke also booted a pair of extra-points, but Caden Grinde blocked another two of his point-after attempts.
Caden Grinde also led Lion tacklers with 16 stops. Hunter Holland had 12 tackles (9 solo) and Tristan Hammel 11. Grinde was also busy as the Lion punter, averaging 38 yards per boot, until that average was diminished when his sixth and last punt was blocked.
Punting was critical with the Lions going 0-for-7 on third-down plays. Meanwhile GM converted 7-of-12 third downs and 2-of-3 fourth-down tries.
Grand Meadow (2-0, 1-0 sub-district) defeated the Lions for a third straight time in a series the Superlarks now lead 34. to 10. The 34-point loss was the greatest for Spring Grove in 12 seasons, since falling by 43 to eventual state champion Houston in 2008.
SG 6, GM 40
SG—–0—0—-0—-6 = 6
GM—13—6—15—6 = 40
Team totals
YARDAGE (rush+pass)
SG 125 (61+64), GM 384 (341+ 43)
RUSHING: att.-yards (avg.) SG 19-61 (3.2); GM 54-341 (6.3) 5TD
PASSES: comp-att-int, yds. (TD): SG 8-18-0, 64 yds. TD; GM 5-8-1, 43 yds. TD + PAT
Sacks allowed: SG 2, GM 0
TD: SG 1 pass; GM 5 run, 1 pass
PAT: SG 0-1 pass; GM 2-5 kick, 1-1 pass
TOTAL PLAYS: SG 37, GM 62
AVG. yards per play: SG 3.4, GM 6.2
FUMBLES – LOST: SG 6-3, GM 3-1
TURNOVERS: SG 3, GM 2
PENALTIES: SG 2-30, GM 5-40
3rd downs: SG 0-7, GM 7-12
4th downs: SG 0-1, GM 2-3
Red zone: SG 0-0, GM 4-5
First downs: SG 8, GM 15
Plays of 20+ yards: SG 2, GM 4
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LION INDIVIDUALS:
RUSHING 19-61: Isaac Griffin 10-40; Reid Bjerke 1-26; Hunter Holland 4-12; Caden Grinde 2-(-6); team 2-(-11)
PASSING: Isaac Griffin 8-18-0, 64 yds. TD
RECEIVING 8-64: Tysen Grinde 1-28, TD; Reid Bjerke 2-13; Caden Grinde 2-11; Hunter Holland 1-7; Caleb Griffin 2-5
SCORING: Tysen Grinde 6
PUNTING: Caden Grinde 6-192 (32.0 avg.)
INTERCEPTIONS: Isaac Griffin 1, touchback
PASS BREAKUPS: none
BLOCKED PATs: Caden Grinde 2
FUMBLE RECOVERIES: Tysen Grinde 1
FUMBLES FORCED: Elijah Solum 1, Hunter Holland 1
SACKS: none
TACKLES for LOSS (incl. sacks): Logan Brumm 2 (2 solo); Tristan Hammel 2 (2 assists); Caden Grinde 2 (2 assists); Noah Blackburn 1 (1 solo); Tysen Grinde 1 (1 solo); Elijah Solum 1 (1 assist); Hunter Holland 1 (1 assist)
TACKLES (solo+assists): Caden Grinde 16 (5+11), Hunter Holland 12 (9+3), Tristan Hammel 11 (1+10), Logan Brumm 8 (7+1), Isaac Griffin 8 (3+5), Elijah Solum 6 (2+4), Reid Bjerke 6 (2+4), Tysen Grinde 4 (2+2), Noah Blackburn 2 (2+0), Ty Cleven 2 (0+2), Caleb Griffin 1 (1+0), Cameron Kraus 1 (0+1), Ethan Crouch 1 (0+1)
KICKOFF RETURNS: Hunter Holland 3-41, Isaac Griffin 1-12, Caden Grinde 1-5
PUNT RETURNS: none
Spring Grove football 2020
1-1 (1-1 sub-district)
W vs. Houston 33-16
L at Grand Meadow 6-40
Oct. 23 vs. Lanesboro (Homecoming)
Oct. 30 at Kingsland (Spring Valley)
Nov. 7 at Lyle/Pacelli (Sat. at Lyle, 1 p.m.)
Nov. 13 vs. Mabel-Canton