Spirit Lake faced its biggest deficit of the season Saturday, trailing by 14 points late in the third quarter of the Class 2A state championship game in Cedar Falls. The two score difference proved too big as the Indians fell for the first time in 2011, dropping a 24-20 contest to defending champion Iowa City Regina at the UNI-Dome. Spirit Lake controlled the early moments of the game, turning two Regals turnovers into ten first quarter points. Brett Cochran-Bray converted a 30-yard field goal on the Indians’ first series of the game, which came as a result of a Rick Maris interception. Regina’s next drive was cut short when Andrew Broocks forced a fumble that Casey Jones jumped on. The ensuing possession appeared to be headed for another field goal, but coach Josh Bolluyt turned to his bag of tricks.
Highlight of Adam Dau to Rick Maris TD on fake FG
Spirit Lake took a 10-3 lead into halftime, but the game’s momentum shifted in the third quarter. Regina blocked a punt and intercepted a pass, setting up two quick scores and a 17-10 advantage. Another three-and-out offensively by the Indians put the Regals at midfield, and on a third-and-eleven, Regina quarterback Nate Streb lofted a jump ball towards the end zone. It was brought down by wideout George Sehl, placing the Indians in a big hole. With an estimated 5,000 red-clad fans behind them, Spirit Lake answered the bell with a nine-play, 67-yard drive capped by the biggest of Zach Herrig’s six catches.
Highlight of Paul Brown to Zach Herrig TD
Spirit Lake’s final attempt to pull even meant a 60-yard drive that needed to go 61 yards. A ten-yard Luke Kabele run put the Indians at the Regina one, however, the Regals D stiffened and forced another Cochran-Bray field goal from 22 yards out. Regina would run out the final six minutes of the game with nine Jacob Vollstedt rushes on an 11-play drive to secure their third state title, another undefeated season, and push their state-leading win streak to 28 games. Spirit Lake finishes with a school best 13-1 record and a Class 2A runner-up trophy.
For the game, Paul Brown was 13-of-27 for 201 yards and a touchdown. Herrig hauled in six passes for 125 yards and a touchdown, while Bryson McCabe caught four balls for 59 yards and Rick Maris reeled in three catches for 34 yards and score. On the ground, Kabele carried the ball 26 times for a team-high 77 yards. Maris had eight attempts for 24 yards. As a team, the Indians tallied 322 yards, compared to 301 for the Regals. Regina’s Vollstedt racked up 80 yards and a touchdown. Joe McCaffery ran for 44 yards and Streb another 24 yards. He threw for 160 yards and one touchdown on 10-of-15 passing, with his first interception of the season.
In the two other championship games played Saturday, St. Ansgar won their first-ever state title in any sport, defeating Council Bluffs St. Albert, 25-15, for the Class 1A title. And in Class 3A, Union got by Decorah, 21-14.
