Spartans celebrate homecoming with huge win over River Falls

shs — Superior’s Beau Girard (10) hurdles Jesse Polson (43) after he picked off a pass at the end of the second quarter during the Spartans victory over River Falls at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex in Superior on Friday night. (Jed Carlson/jcarlson@superiortelegram.com)

September 30, 2014 at 7:47 AM

The Superior High School football team celebrated homecoming with a 49-14 win over the River Falls Wildcats Friday night before a standing-room-only crowd at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex.

With the victory, the Spartans (5-1) took over first place in the Big Rivers Conference with a 4-0 record and clinched a berth in the WIAA playoffs.

Rice Lake (5-1) and Eau Claire Memorial (4-2) are tied for second place in the BRC at 3-1. Rice Lake defeated Menomonie 13-12 Friday, and ECM lost to Hudson 30-9.

Superior hosts Rice Lake at 7 p.m. Friday and ECM on Oct. 17.

“It was exciting, the team played great we were all hyped up with homecoming,” SHS senior Jake Libal said. “We were all super jacked about the game and we played like it.”

River Falls had a huge advantage in time of possession - 35:02 to 12:58 - but Superior scored early and often before a crowd that was estimated to be more than 4,000.

Libal scored two special-team touchdowns for Superior. He returned the second-half kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown and minutes later returned a punt 43 yards for a score.

“I’ve been telling people all offseason, including coaches from around the state, that he’s the most explosive player in our league and the state,” DeMeyer said. “He’s unselfish and just a great kid. On those returns, he had a lot of kids blocking for him, fighting like crazy to get him there. Jake will be the first one to tell you that.”

Libal added that it’s about time the special teams picked up its play.

“We wanted to be really aggressive on special teams: we haven’t been able to do what we’re capable of the last few games,” Libal said. “The entire team was more aggressive, and it ended up working out for us tonight.”

Quarterback Nick Mehlum had a hand in three other Spartan touchdowns. He ran 4 yards for a touchdown and threw touchdowns passes of 15 yards to Ross Kennelly and 31 yards to Beau Girard.

Kennelly also had a 3-yard touchdown run, and sophomore Zach Tharge scored from 42 yards out during running time in the fourth quarter.

Wildcat mistakes on the first two plays of the game led to Superior taking a 7-0 lead on Kennelly’s 3-yard touchdown just 15 seconds into the game.

River Falls misplayed the opening kick, leaving the ball at the 2-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage the Wildcats’ attempted option pass was intercepted by Girard, who returned it to the 3. One play later Kennelly ran through the right side for the score.

“We’ve been stressing all week that we have to start fast and keep things going from there,” DeMeyer said. “In a few games we’ve started slow, let teams drive down the field and sputtered on offense. Tonight we kept things rolling.

“That was a huge. McKenzie Schwarz had a great kick and the interception was huge. We had a lot of kids make plays tonight. It was another great team effort.”

After the teams traded punts, River Falls put together a 22-play, 12-minute drive that ended with a Jon Krueger 1-yard touchdown run. Colton Larson kicked the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 with 5:23 left in the second quarter.

During the drive, River Falls overcame two penalties and converted first downs on three fourth-down plays.

Just 2:34 later the Spartans answered when Mehlum’s touchdown run and Schwarz’s kick gave Superior a 14-7 lead.

Superior increased its lead to 21-7 four minutes later on Mehlum’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Kennelly with 1:09 left in the second quarter.

The Spartans blew the game open in the second half when Libal caught the kickoff at the 11, hit the right sidelines and ran for an 89-yard touchdown.

“I got great blocking,” Libal said. “I just had to make a couple of guys miss, but other than that I have to give it all to the team on that one.”

Three minutes later Mehlum threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Girard.

Sacks by Kennelly and Blake Sharp forced a River Falls punt, which Libal picked up on a bounce and returned 44 yards for a touchdown and a 42-7 lead with 54 seconds left in the third quarter.

“I was hoping my teammates would know I was going to pick up,” Libal said. “I was just waiting for the right bounce. When I picked it up we were on the same page and they turned around and blocked. It was a great thing.”

River Falls got within 42-14 on Longa Emholtz’s 4-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Tharge’s touchdown came with 9:53 remaining in the game.

Mehlum completed 18-of-24 passes for 267 yards. Six different players caught passes, led by Girard with five catches for 92 yards. Grant Hanson also had five catches for 53 yards, and Jake Libal had three catches for 26 yards.

Tharge led Superior in rushing with his 40-yard touchdown run.

SPARTAN SPIN: SHS senior Daniel Burger suffered a leg injury early in the first quarter and didn’t return to the game. … Girard also intercepted a Krueger pass on the last play of the first half. … Superior broke out new uniforms for the game. The jerseys feature dark blue numbers with white trim. … The 2014 Superior Academic and Athletic Hall of Fame inductees were introduced between the first and second quarters. The induction banquet is Saturday night.

River Falls................................ 0 7 0 7 -- 14

Superior.................................... 7 14 21 7 -- 49

First Quarter

SHS - Ross Kennelly 3-yard run (McKenzie Schwarz kick), 11:45.

Second Quarter

RF - Logan Emholtz 1-yard run (Colton Larson kick), 7:55.

SHS - Nick Mehlum 4-yard run (Schwarz kick), 5:23.

SHS - Kennelly 15-yard pass from Mehlum (Schwarz kick), 1:09.

Third Quarter

SHS - Jake Libal 89-yard kick-off return (Schwarz kick), 11:45.

SHS - Beau Girard 31-yard pass from Mehlum (Schwarz kick), 8:23.

SHS - Libal 43-yard punt return (Schwarz kick), 0:54.

Fourth Quarter

RF - Logan Emholtz 4-yard run (Larson kick), 11:57.

SHS - Zach Tharge 42-yard run (Sam Kline kick), 9:53.

RF SHS

First downs.............................. 17 15

Total Net Yards...................... 345 355

Rushes-yards........................ 51-285 12-88

Passing yards.......................... 60 267

Comp.-Att.-Int..................... 5-16-2 18-24-0

Punt Returns............................ 0-0 1-43

Kickoff Returns...................... 3-116 3-118

Punts....................................... 3-122 1-43

Sacks.......................................... 0 2

Fumbles-Lost.......................... 1-1 0-0

Penalties-Yards 64-43 3-27

Time of Possession.............. 35:02 12:58

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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

PASSING-River Falls, Jon Krueger 5-15-60. Jaxin Larson 0-1-0. Superior, Mehlum 18-24-267.

RUSHING-River Falls, Logan Emholtz 15-86; Adriam Paurus 5-67; Jon Krueger 12-38; Bailey Ronnestrand 5-32; Tryler Johnson 2-18; Brian Grove 3-14; Michael Cudd 3-13; Jaxin Larson 2-6; Miller Brian 2-5; Ben Dumont 1-4; Riley Tschumper 1-2. Superior, Zach Tharge 1-40; Mitch Anderson 2-21; Mehlum 2-11; Jon Cronin 1-11; Ross Kennelly 4-4; Dan Lewandowski 1-2; Brandon Adams 1-(-1).

RECEIVING-River Falls, Kenny Oberlin 3-40; Nate Glabitz 1-4; Emholtz 1-16. Superior, Beau Girard 5-92; Grant Hanson 5-53; Jake Libal 3-26; Kennelly 2-46; Mitch Anderson 1-24; McKenzie Schwarz 1-20; Robert McClary 1-5.

Defense - Tackles

Superior

................................................ Total Solo Asst.

Ross Kennelly............................ 9 8 1

Jesse Polson............................. 7 6 1

Beau Girard............................... 7 5 2

Connor Gray............................. 7 7 0

Matt Hinaus............................... 5 5 0

Grant Hanson............................ 5 4 1

Garrett Hobson........................ 4 3 1

Graskey Blake........................... 3 2 1

Kyler Krob................................. 3 1 2