The Spirit Lake Indians needed just twelve seconds to make their mark on the 2011 season. Junior Aric Waltz took the opening snap 65-yards for a touchdown that propelled the Indians to a game one 52-6 victory over the Cherokee Braves. Spirit Lake went on to score 35 points in the opening quarter with additional touchdowns by quarterback Paul Brown, running backs Cody Poock and Luke Kabele, who scored twice. Poock crossed the goalline again in the second quarter and junior Brett Cochran-Bray connected on a 20-yard field goal to enter halftime up 45-0. The Indians ran for 233 yards, led by Kabele’s 55 yards, while Brown threw for 63 yards and backup Adam Dau pitched in with 67. The Spirit Lake defense did its part, holding Cherokee to 54 total yards and forcing four turnovers. The Indians continue with the non-district portion of their schedule next Friday when they host Lakes area rival Spencer, a game that will air live on KUOO.
It was also a successful start to the 2011 season for the Harris Lake-Park Wolves as they earned a 37-0 win at Ruthven-Ayrshire. Junior signal caller Colin Brons threw for five touchdowns, connecting with Kade Heikens on a 45-yard pitch-and-catch during the game’s opening drive. The duo would connect again for six points in the second quarter. Brons also threw two scores to Jake Ihnen, one to Brady Nissen, who also ran for one, and finished with 360 yards through the air. Nissen tallied 84 yards on the ground. The Raiders were paced by junior Kyle Toillion’s 50 yards on 15 carries. R-A will try again for win number one when they host Newell-Fonda next Friday. HLP makes their home debut when they welcome Spalding Catholic to Lake Park and that game will be live on Q102.
Other scores from throughout the area include Spencer grabbing a road win at Estherville-Lincoln Central by a 21-2 final. Rivals Sheldon and Sibley-Ocheyedan matched up in a non-district battle that the Orabs went on to win 30-20. Armstrong-Ringsted picked up where they left off last fall, extending the state’s longest winning streak to 24 games with a commanding 51-12 decision over Ar-We-Va. Sioux Center opened with a 14-7 win at Manson NW Webster. Western Christian defended their home turf, defeating Sioux City North 25-24 in double overtime. West Sioux topped South O’Brien by a 20-7 differential. Sioux Central narrowly got by Marcus-Meridan-Cleghorn 22-19 and Central Lyon/George-Little Rock beat up on Sioux City West 51-0.
