By Mike Granlund
For The Telegram
The Heart O’ North Conference football title chase is the focus of the Northwestern Tigers and the Spooner Rails tonight as the two teams square off in Spooner trying to stay in the title hunt.
Both teams enter the game with records of 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the HON.
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After a 40-38 loss at Hayward last week, Northwestern needs a win to stay close to Hayward and Chetek-Weyerhaeuser (both 2-0 in the HON). Spooner won 38-13 last week over Cumberland to also go to 1-1 in the HON, so they have the same incentive.
The two teams are very close statistically, with the Tigers averaging 19.5 points per game to Spooner’s 18.5. Defensively, Northwestern is giving up an average of 27 points per game, while Spooner had a 25 PPG defensive stat in their four overall games.
Northwestern won 35-0 at home last year over Spooner.
Northwestern welcomed senior running back Nate Pearson back to the no-huddle offense last week after one week off and he responded with three touchdowns and 268 yards rushing.
Another 129 yards from junior Carter Spangenberg last week provided coach David Crail with a potent rushing attack.
Quarterback Jared Antilla is 22-of-40 passing this year, so the air is another threat the Tigers have.
His main targets have been Tyler Little and Noah Antilla.
Defensively, tackle Alex Tecker has anchored the defensive line with Nick Johnson leading the secondary. Junior linebackers Andrew Hanson and Jameson Pflug have been the leading tacklers.
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Heart O’North Conference
2015 Football Standings
Chetek (3-1)............................................... 2-0
Hayward (3-1)............................................ 2-0
Ladysmith (1-3)........................................... 1-1
Northwestern (2-2)......................................... 1-1
Bloomer (2-2).............................................. 1-1
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Spooner (2-2)............................................. 1-1
Cumberland (1-3)........................................ 0-2
Barron (0-4)................................................ 0-2
Friday, Sept. 11
Hayward 40, Northwestern 38
Spooner 38, Cumberland 13
Chetek-Weyerhaeuser 65, Barron 0
Bloomer 42, Ladysmith 7
Friday, Sept. 18
Hayward at Ladysmith, 7 p.m.
Barron at Bloomer, 7 p.m.
Northwestern at Spooner, 7 p.m.
Chetek-Weyerhaeuser at Cumberland, 7 p.m.
