By Hub City Times staff

The Marshfield Tigers and Spencer/Columbus football teams remain unbeaten in five games.

Tigers survive another late scare

The Tigers defeated Stevens Point 13-7 on Sept.14 at Beell Stadium in Marshfield. Marshfield trailed at halftime 7-6. Marshfield’s lone scoring drive of the first half ended on a six-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Krueger to Isaac Meverden; that capped off a 92-yard scoring drive. The Tigers got another score with just over eight minutes left in the game, when Krueger ran for a 19-yard touchdown.

After a Marshfield turnover late in the game, the Panthers got the ball back with under a minute left on the clock. When a Point touchdown was called back on a holding penalty against SPASH, the Panthers eventually advanced the ball to the Marshfield one-yard line. Stevens Point quarterback Brett Ehr was penalized for an illegal forward pass when he batted down a shotgun snap attempting to spike the ball to stop the clock. Three more scoring attempts fell short, and the Tigers hung on to win. Point ran four plays inside the Tigers’ 10-yard line in the final :40 but could not score.

Brant Bohman led the Marshfield attack with 109 rushing yards on 19 carries. The win was the fourth in conference play for Marshfield, and that makes the Tigers eligible for the playoffs. Marshfield plays at Wisconsin Rapids Sept. 21.

Rockets are 5-0

The Spencer/Columbus Rockets have improved their record to 5-0 following a 46-14 win over Neillsville/Granton Sept.14. The Rockets started strong with another big first quarter, scoring 27 points that went unanswered. Quarterback Jarred Mandel connected on touchdown passes of 52 and 62 yards to Austin Bacon, and hit Ethan Meece on a 60-yard score, while Bacon also scored on a rushing touchdown in the first quarter.

The Rockets continued the scoring in the second quarter, when Hayden Bauman ran for a 32-yard touchdown. Mandel added a nine-yard scoring run, and S/C led 40-0 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Bauman turned a fumble recovery into a touchdown, and S/C led 46-0. The Warriors got two scores late in the game to make the final score 46-14.

The Rockets outgained the Warriors 432-142. Mandel connected on nine of 16 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw one interception. Austin Bacon carried the ball four times for 77 yards and a touchdown. Bacon also hauled in two pass receptions for 114 yards and two scores. Meece caught three passes for 82 yards and a touchdown. Bauman had seven carries for 72 yards and a score.

After the game, S/C Head Coach Jason Gorst praised his offensive line. “We had good protection and made big plays. Tanner Kleinschmidt had a great game on both sides of the ball. We were down three starting offensive linemen and he was able to change positions and play well. The whole group stepped up.”

Spencer/Columbus plays at unbeaten Colby Sept. 21 at 7 p.m.