Fresh off its biggest victory in years with a 35-28 win over the Hudson Raiders, the Superior High School football team moved to the No. 8 ranking in this week’s Wis.Sport.net Wisconsin coach’s poll. Hudson dropped from No. 3 to No. 9
Up next for the Spartans are the Chippewa Falls Cardinals - at 7 p.m. today at Dorais Field in Chippewa Falls.
While the Spartan are riding a two-game win streak, they’d best be on their toes despite Chippewa Falls’ 1-2 record.
The Cardinals gave Eau Claire Memorial all it could handle in last week’s 21-7 loss. Chippewa Falls limited Old Abe quarterback Ben Everhart to just 138 yards passing while sacking him four times. Everhart entered the game with more than 500 yards passing and five touchdowns.
“Chippewa Falls is a good football team,” SHS coach Bob DeMeyer said. “They beat a tough Medford team, lost a one-point game to Holmen and played a close four-quarter game at Memorial last week.
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“Our kids know that every Friday night will be a battle. I believe the BRC is the most competitive it’s been in a very long time and as always, when we play Chi Hi, it will be a fun, hard fought game on both sidelines.”
While their defense has been stout, including limiting ECM to just 71 yards rushing, the Cardinals offense has struggled, especially through the air. Justin Czech is just 5-of-21 passing for 75 yards and Aaron Houle is 5-of-10 for 25 yards. They have yet to score a touchdown through the air.
Kyle Webb leads the Cardinal rushing attack with 236 yards and two touchdowns. Aaron Knez has added 103 yards and Issac Solberg has rushed for 92.
“Defensively, they are sound, athletic and they get kids to the football,” DeMeyer said. “Once again, they have real good size on their offensive line and have kids that can run in the backfield. Webb is very explosive, he’s as good as any back in our league.”
ECM held Chippewa Falls to just 28 yards on 36 rushing attempts and 43 yard passing on 4-of-18 tries.
“Both their offensive and defensive schemes are unique, things we won’t see from any other team,” DeMeyer said. “Preparing to play them is challenging, as we try to simulate what they do as close to game speed as possible. What they have been working on all season teaching their kids, we have to do in three nights of practice.”
SHS quarterback Nick Mehlum is fourth in Wisconsin with 797 yards passing and Jake Libal is eighth in receiving yards with 337.
Zach Simmons of Xavier is No. 1 in passing with 931 yards. Chris Montag of Port Edwards is first in receiving yards with 439.
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Mehlum has also thrown 10 touchdown passes, including four to Libal, three to Beau Girard and one each to Grant Hanson, Ross Kennelly and Mitch Anderson.
Kennelly leads the Spartans in two categories, 84 yards rushing on offense and 41 tackles on defense.
Last year
The Spartans have won their past two meetings with Chippewa Falls - 42-34 last season and 28-8 in 2012. The Cardinals won 47-6 in 2011.
In last year’s win, Kennelly rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown and Mehlum also threw for 224 yards and rushed for three TDs.
Webb gained 104 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown run, on 15 carries.
Mehlum honored
Mehlum, the BRC Offensive Player of the Year last season, was named the Air National Guard Week 2 Player of the Week by WisSports.net.
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Mehlum completed 16-of-24 passes for 341 yards and five touchdowns as the Spartans got a 35-28 win over previously undefeated and 3rd-ranked Hudson. He’s now fourth in the state in passing yards and third with 10 TD passes.
SPARTAN SPIN: Tonight’s game may be seen on the Web at ifan.tv. … Chippewa Falls lost to Holmen 14-13, defeated Medford 22-14 in overtime and lost to Eau Claire Memorial. … Brandon Cobb had two of Chippewa Falls sacks last week and Thomas Williams and Kyle Zerbian had the others.
