Spartans Playoff Bound

Superior Spartans are Playoff Bound

The Superior High School Spartans football team has officially clinched a WIAA playoff berth with a 35-31 victory over Eau Claire North Friday night at Carson Park in Eau Claire.

The Spartans are 6-0 overall, which is their best start since the 1990 state championship team started with an 8-0 record before losing its last game of the regular season.

The Spartans fought from behind three times in the game and pulled off their second-straight come-from-behind victory.

The Spartans come from behind rally was highlighted by Jake Libal’s 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with 8:46 remaining. McKenzie Schwarz’s fifth extra-point kick provided Superior with a four-point cushion.

The Superior touchdown came after they fumbled a punt and EC North recovered the ball inside the Spartans’ 1-yard line. EC’s Nate Sorenson ran up the middle for the score to give the Huskies a 31-28 lead.

Spartan quarterback Nick Mehlum showed why he was selected player of the week by throwing three touchdown passes and running for another. He completed 17-of-25 passes for 203 yards and he led Superior in rushing with 87 yards on 15 carries.

Game Summary:

Superior  0  21  7  7 — 35

Eau Claire North 10 14 0 7 — 31

First Quarter

ECN—Tyler Deacon 3-yard run (Jared Bollinger kick), 6:30.

ECN—Bollinger 27-yard field goal, 1:37.

Second Quarter

SHS—Nick Mehlum 19-yard pass to Carter Anderson (McKenzie Schwarz kick), 11:03.

SHS—Mehlum 22-yard run (Schwarz kick), 10:13.

ECN—Adam LaRock 39-yard pass to Anthony Miloszewicz (Bollinger kick), 1:56.

ECN—Nate Sorenson 6-yard run (Bollinger kick), 1:03.

SHS—Mehlum 3-yard pass to Addison Schwarz (M. Schwarz kick), 0:11.

Third Quarter

SHS—Mehlum 8-yard pass to Grant Hanson (M. Schwarz kick), 5:21.

Fourth Quarter

ECN—Sorenson 1-yard run (Bollinger kick), 9:01.

SHS—Jake Libal 99-yard kickoff return (Schwarz kick), 8:46.

                                          SHS                          ECN

First downs                        16                               16

Total Net Yards                  337                           340

Rushes-yards                 30-134                       32-178

Passing                             203                            162

Comp-Att-Int                   17-25-0                     15-26-0

Punt Returns                    1-0                               1-0

Kickoff Returns              3-110                            4-62

Sacked                             4                                  1

Punts                            4-29.7                            8-30.1

Fumbles-Lost                  2-2                               4-3

Penalties-Yards             1-8                               7-66

Time of Possession      24:02                            23:58

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Superior, Nick Mehlum 15-87; Tyler Nystrom 8-25; Grant Hanson 2-13; Jake Libal 4-9. Eau Claire North, Nate Sorenson 18-133; Jared Bollinger 5-39; Adam LaRock 5-0; Tyler Deacon 4-6.

PASSING—Superior, Mehlum 17-25-203-1. Eau Claire North, LaRock 15-=26-162-0.

RECEIVING—Superior, Addison Schwarz 6-50; Carter Anderson 3-36; Hanson 3-31; Libal 2-65; Tyler Anderson 2-20; Wes Larson 1-2. Eau Claire North, Anthony Miloszewski 6-73; Bryce Kamernick 5-45; Ben Lawrence 3-34; Sorenson 1-10.