Spirit Lake will play for a state football championship in 2011 following their impressive showing Monday in the Class 2A state semifinals, beating previously undefeated and second-ranked West Marshall 35-14 at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. The Indians trailed 7-3 following the Trojans first touchdown, a one-yard plunge by running back Dalton Ferch. It marked just the second time all season that Spirit Lake was behind on the scoreboard, but it didn’t last long. Nearly five minutes later, Luke Kabele capped a 47-yard, six-play drive with the first of his three touchdowns, handing Spirit Lake a 10-7 advantage. A Kevin Martinson interception then led to Brett Cochran-Bray’s second made field goal of the contest, a 37-yarder as time expired in the first half. After the break, the Indians rode the powerful legs of their senior tailback, as Kabele churned up a career- and season-high 239 yards on 20 carries, finding the endzone on runs of three yards and one yard. Paul Brown also ran one in from 24 yards out. The junior QB finished with 41 yards rushing and 100 yards passing on seven completions. Defensively, the hard-hitting Indians stymied the Trojans vaunted run game, which led all of Class 2A entering the semifinals with an average of 324 yards per game, a number that shot up to 465 yards a contest in the postseason. However, Spirit Lake contained Ferch to a season-low 34 yards, with West Marshall, as a team, accumulating just 70 yards on 39 attempts. They did complete thirteen passes by quarterback Braydn Beals for 200 yards, though he also was picked off three times. Spirit Lake forced four turnovers, bringing their season turnover ratio to plus 36. With the win, the Indians will play again Saturday in Cedar Falls in the Class 2A championship against last year’s title winner, Iowa City Regina. The Regals avoided a late-game collapse in a 35-28 victory over Beckman, Dyersville. Regina is 13-0 and has been ranked number one all season. Kickoff is set for 1:05pm, with coverage to begin on KUOO Campus Radio at 12:30pm.
The other semifinal games Monday were in the 3A bracket. Perennial power Harlan was handed a 35-14 setback against Decorah, who will take an 11-2 record to the title game Saturday against Union, LaPorte City. They defeated previously unbeaten ADM, Adel 42-28, improving to 11-2, as well.
