By Brian Kalish
October 5, 2012
Stevens Point– When SPASH and Rapids meet on the football field, both the Panthers and Red Raiders know they are going to get the opposing team’s best shot every single time. This year, when you throw in SPASH’s homecoming, Rapids’ playoff hopes on the line and, of course, the bragging rights associated with the Ol’ River Jug, you’ve got all the ingredients for a highly intriguing prep football match up.
Friday night’s game at Goerke Field proved to be just that as SPASH held on for a tightly contested 21-19 victory and, because previously-unbeaten Marshfield was defeated by Menasha, the Panthers earned at least a share of the VFA-South Conference title.
The Panthers leaned on senior running back Zach Pozorski, who carried the ball 31 times for 110 yards and one touchdown. SPASH also got some stellar defensive plays, including a decisive safety in the third quarter, to come away with the win.
Things started out a bit shaky for SPASH. Rapids’ defense stopped the Panthers on their first three offensive plays. On fourth and one, SPASH’s offense came out and it appeared they were going to go for it. However, quarterback Eric Zelhofer took the snap from the shotgun and attempted a quick punt that caromed off one of the Panthers’ lineman. Rapids’ Jeremy Statz recovered the ball and set up the Red Raiders with great field position to begin their first drive. Rapids later scored on a ten yard touchdown run by Jared Halbur and took a quick 7-0 lead.
SPASH came right back on their next drive, with Pozorski finding pay dirt on a touchdown run to bring the score to 7-6 with 3:38 left in the first quarter.
Garrett O’Neil, who rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown in the game for Rapids, provided an offensive spark on the ensuing drive, ripping off a 35 yard run to help advance the Red Raiders to the one yard line. SPASH’s defense stuffed two Rapids’ run attempts and then turned the momentum in the Panthers’ favor when Jake Yenter intercepted a pass in the end zone on Rapids’ third and goal.
“It was the first shot we were going to take at Hayden (Biegel),” said Rapids head coach Tony Biolo of the Yenter interception play. ”We had to throw fast. We weren’t planning throwing as fast as we did, so the quarterback threw off the wrong leg… We needed to get the ball up in the air and over the top. We had exactly what we thought we were going to have, we just didn’t think we’d have to pass so quickly.”
The momentum wouldn’t stick with SPASH for long. Rapids blocked a SPASH punt attempt that was recovered by Zach Bassuener in the end zone for a touchdown to give Rapids a 13-6 lead at 10:02 in the second quarter.
SPASH bounced back with a 13 yard touchdown run by Joey Flowerette to even the score at 13-13 going into halftime.
The frenetic pace of play continued in the third quarter when SPASH was stopped on a fourth and goal at the one yard line. Rapids took over on offense, but SPASH’s Aaron Winch sacked Halbur in the end zone for a safety to give SPASH a 15-13 lead.
“Obviously that’s a heck of a defensive stand (for Rapids) to hold us and keep us out of the end zone there,” said SPASH head coach Pete McAdams. ”It’s disappointment for us offensively not to punch it in there… But our defense was aggressive and attacked the ball well and made a heck of a play (for the safety).”
Coach Biolo had high praise for his defense to stop SPASH from scoring a touchdown on that drive.
“Our defense held them when we needed to,” Biolo said. ”They did a great job on the goal line stand. We just needed to get out of there (offensively) instead of taking the safety.”
SPASH scored again with 7:32 in the fourth quarter when tight end Nick Strigel caught a well-executed screen pass from Zelhofer for a 11 yard touchdown.
O’Neil crossed the goal line once more for Rapids with just over two minutes to play, but that’s as close as Rapids would get as their final drive ended inside of SPASH’s territory.
For Rapids, this was a tough defeat. The loss prevents the Red Raiders from making a post season appearance after advancing all the way to the state final game last year. Rapids has lost a number of very close games this season and, with a few breaks, could have been right in the thick of things with SPASH and Marshfield at the top of the conference.
“If there’s ever a case for all-inclusive playoffs, this is it,” said Biolo. ”I’d love to take this team into the playoffs.”
Meanwhile, SPASH improves to 7-0 and has a chance to win the VFA-South title outright when they play Marshfield next week in the regular season finale.
So how does it feel to be undefeated?
“Really good,” said Pozorski. ”We played hard. We did what we could and we got the ‘W.’”
Rapids SPASH
First Downs 8 15
Rushing 34-168 46-176
Passing 2-10-1 6-14-1
Passing Yards 20 66
Total Yards 188 242
Fumbles-Lost 2-0 1-0
Penalties-Yards 3-19 1-10
Punts-Avg. 6-27.3 4-30.5 (2 blkd)
Score by Quarters
1 2 3 4 Final
Wis. Rapids Lincoln 7 6 0 6 – 19
SPASH 6 7 2 6 – 21
Scoring Summary
WR – Jared Halbur 10 run (Zach Bassuener kick)
SP – Zach Pozorski 7 run (kick failed)
WR – Bassuener blocked punt recovery in end zone (kick failed)
SP – Joey Flowerette 13 run (Trevor Thomas kick)
SP – Safety (Halbur tackled by Aaron Winch in end zone)
SP – Nick Strigel 9 pass from Eric Zelhofer (kick failed)
WR – Garrett O’Neil 3 run (run failed)
Individual Statistics
Rushing
Wis. Rapids Lincoln – Jared Halbur 4-12, Ryan Duxbury 17-41, Jayson Wiernik 5-9, Garrett O’Neil 7-107, Team 1-(-1).
SPASH – Zach Pozorski 31-110, Eric Zelhofer 8-30, Joey Flowerette 7-36.
Passing
Wis. Rapids Lincoln – Jayson Wiernik 0-5-1-0, Jared Halbur 2-4-0-20, Garrett O’Neil 0-1-0-0.
SPASH – Eric Zelhofer 6-14-1-66.
Receiving
Wis. Rapids Lincoln – Simon Stevenoski 1-12, Zach Bassuener 1-8.
SPASH – Joey Flowerette 1-8, Scott Walder 3-33, Mitch Fuller 1-16, Nick Strigel 1-9.
