It was a special teams play that sparked Spirit Lake to another postseason triumph Monday night, as Bryson McCabe returned a first quarter punt 72-yards for a touchdown, igniting the Indians to a 42-7 win over South Central Calhoun in the Class 2A playoffs. After being forced to punt on their opening series, Spirit Lake went on to score on each of their next four possessions to build a 35-0 advantage at the half. Luke Kabele ran it in twice, and Paul Brown threw touchdown scores to Rick Maris and Cody Poock. Brown would add another second half score, running 29 yards to cross the goal line. The Indians amassed 390 total yards of offense, with Brown completing eight passes for 143 yards. Kabele carried 15 times and surpassed the 100-yard mark for the third time this season with 110 yards. The Titans were led by Austin Blair’s 46 yards on thirteen carries and one touchdown, as their season ends with a 9-2 record. Spirit Lake will advance to the state quarterfinals for the first time in school history, where they will travel to Carroll for a showdown with Kuemper Catholic. The Knights advanced with a 20-7 home win over Central Lyon/George-Little Rock, sending the Lions home with a final mark of 7-4. The quarterfinal matchup between the Indians and the Knights will be live on KUOO on Monday, November 7.
Click here for postgame interviews with Tate Hanson, Cody Poock, and coach Josh Bolluyt.
The Class 1A playoffs will feature a very familiar postseason matchup in the quarterfinals next week, as both Emmetsburg and West Lyon earned wins in the second round Monday night. The E-Hawks ran to a 35-0 first half lead as they racked up 306 yards before the intermission. In the end, Emmetsburg defeated Manson NW Webster, 42-13. Brady Berkland and Andrew Wellik each scored twice in the win, which moves Emmetsburg to 11-0 this season and into the quarterfinals. Waiting will be last year’s state champs, as West Lyon got by upset-minded South O’Brien 21-6 in a battle between district foes. The Wolverines end 2011 at an even 6-6. The Wildcats and E-Hawks will play Monday in Emmetsburg, a game that can be heard live on Y100.
The magical run of the Spencer Tigers nearly continued Monday night in the Class 3A playoffs, as Spencer led Harlan late in the fourth quarter, but ultimately fell 28-24 on the road to end another upset bid. The Tigers finish at 5-7, having won four of their last seven games. Harlan will draw undefeated Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley in the quarterfinals, after the Nighthawks got by Carroll, 28-21. That game will be played in Harlan.
District rivals Armstrong-Ringsted and West Bend-Mallard will reunite one more time this season, after both finalized trips to the quarterfinals with second-round victories in 8-man football Monday. The two-time defending state champion Mustangs blanked Remsen-Union 24-0, pushing their state leading win streak to 34 consecutive games. West Bend-Mallard eliminated Newell-Fonda by a 44-26 margin. A-R took down WB-M by 23 in the regular season finale.
