This story is sponsored by: Trudeau Construction and The Tile Guys
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
SPENCER – The Spencer/Marshfield Columbus Catholic football team was snake-bitten last week, losing on a late field goal on the road to Osseo-Fairchild.
The Rockets were able to erase that bitter taste in their mouths by holding on to beat Fall Creek 14-12 in their home opener on Friday night at Fritsch Field.
Spencer/Columbus scored on consecutive offensive plays in the second quarter and held off a late charge from the Crickets to pull out the win and improve to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the Cloverbelt Conference. Fall Creek drops to 1-2 overall and in the Cloverbelt.
“It’s nice to get that first win of the season,” said first-year Spencer/Columbus coach Jason Gorst. “We did some things very well at times, but we’re still a little inconsistent at times. We have some things to work on, but a win is a win.
“The same guys came back and worked very hard (after last week’s loss). I didn’t really notice a change in their demeanor, other than that they were a little more hungry. They responded in a good way.”
Spencer/Columbus grabbed a 14-0 lead on a 5-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jordan Buss and a 25-yard scoring pass from Buss to Adam Skrzeczkoski within a span of 55 seconds. The second touchdown was set up by an interception from Tyler Stelson on Fall Creek’s second play following the first score. Skrzeczkoski scored on the next play. Alex Brostowitz made both extra points, which turned out to be key in the victory.
The Rockets’ lead held until the fourth quarter. An 8-play, 66-yard drive by the Crickets ended when Dusty Kuhnert scored on a quarterback sneak from the 1-yard line on the first play of the fourth quarter, but they missed the extra point kick and trailed 14-6.
Fall Creek put together one last drive, taking over with 2:50 left at its own 47.
The Crickets converted on fourth-and-3 and third-and-8 to keep the drive alive and Kuhnert hit Brandon Mielnik for a 14-yard touchdown pass with 1:12 left to make it 14-12 and set up a potential game-tying two-point conversion. However, Spencer/Columbus’ Charlie Mayeux knocked down a pass in the end zone to preserve the victory.
“That’s a huge play right there,” Gorst said. “Once they scored the touchdown, it doesn’t matter anymore. Charlie made a nice play on the ball there.
“I think we’re going to be a very competitive football team. We have some things we need to clean up and continue to improve at, but I think we can be a tough football team this year.”
Mayeux led the Rockets’ offense with 101 yards rushing on 23 carries, and Fall Creek running back Nate Henrichs piled up 118 yards on 30 carries as the two workhorses managed nearly half of the offense in the game.
Spencer/Columbus plays at Stanley-Boyd next Friday.
Rockets 14, Crickets 12
Fall Creek 0 0 0 12 – 12
Spencer 0 14 0 0 – 14
SECOND QUARTER
S/C – Jordan Buss 5 run (Alex Brostowitz kick), 5:36.
S/C – Adam Skrzeczkoski 25 pass from Buss (Brostowitz kick), 441.
FOURTH QUARTER
FC – Dusty Kuhnert 1 run (kick missed), 11:51.
FC – Brandon Mielnik 14 pass from Kuhnert (pass failed), 1:12.
TEAM STATISTICS
First downs: Fall Creek 17; Spencer/Columbus 8.
Rushing (att-yards): FC 40-147; S/C 43-125.
Passing (comp-att-yards-int): FC 10-27-136-1; S/C 3-6-48-0.
Penalties (no.-yards): FC 4-28; S/C 0-0.
Fumbles (total-lost): FC 2-1; S/C 1-0.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: FC, Nate Henrichs 30-118, Brandon Mielnik 3-33, Jacob Stuttgen 2-4, Tyler Wathke 1-2, Dusty Kuhnert 4-minus 10. S/C, Charlie Mayeux 23-101, Adam Skrzeczkoski 4-15, Eathen Aden 4-6, Bryce DeSmet 4-3, Joe Meyers 1-0, Jordan Buss 7-0.
Passing: FC, Kuhnert 10-26-136-1, Henrichs 0-1-0-0. S/C, Buss 3-6-48-0.
Receiving: FC, DeShawn Gilles 3-47, Mielnik 2-27, Chris Sundly 2-21, Tyler Stanek 1-16, Mitchell Benner 1-16, Henrichs 1-9. S/C, Skrzeczkoski 2-40, Mayeux 1-8.
Fumble recoveries (defense): S/C, Tyler Stelson.
Interceptions (defense): S/C, Stelson.
Records: Fall Creek 1-2 overall and Cloverbelt Conference; Spencer/Columbus 1-2, 1-1 Cloverbelt Conference.