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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
SPENCER – For the second straight game, the Spencer/Columbus Catholic football team rode its running game to victory.
The Rockets pounded out 357 yards on the ground and Eathen Aden sealed the game by converting a third-and-21 play in the final minute as they edged Pittsville 31-29 in a nonconference game Friday night at Spencer High School.
Charlie Mayeux carried the ball 27 times for 175 yards and scored twice for Spencer/Columbus, which improves to 4-2. Pittsville falls to 3-3.
Derrick Green hauled in a 26-yard touchdown pass from Joe Meyers in the first quarter and Mayeux added touchdown runs of 26 and 2 yards to give the Rockets a 20-8 lead at halftime.
Pittsville surged ahead to a 22-20 lead after scoring a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter, but Spencer/Columbus fought back.
Meyers scored on a 3-yard touchdown run and threw a two-point conversion pass to Green to put the Rockets back up 28-22, and they added a key field goal in the fourth quarter to take a nine-point lead.
Pittsville scored late on David Sojka’s third touchdown pass of the game, but Spencer/Columbus was able to hold on.
“Our players gave it their all and fought through some adversity tonight,” Spencer/Columbus coach Jason Gorst said. “I am really happy with how they handled things when they were not going well. We bounced right back and finished the game. Our players have a lot of heart and guts and it is just really fun coaching them right now.”
Meyers had three interceptions and Lance Neumann had four tackles for loss and 1 1/2 quarterback sacks for the Rockets’ defense.
Spencer/Columbus hosts Osseo-Fairchild next Friday. It will be Columbus Catholic High School’s annual homecoming game and will be played at Beell Stadium in Marshfield starting at 7 p.m. With a win, the Rockets clinch a WIAA playoff berth for the second straight season.
Rockets 31, Panthers 29
Pittsville 0 8 14 7 – 29
Spencer/Columbus 6 14 8 3 – 31
First Quarter
SC – Derrick Green 26 pass from Joe Meyers (conversion failed).
Second Quarter
SC – Charlie Mayeux 26 run (Mayeux run).
P – Nathan Dupee 15 pass from David Sojka (2-pt conversion good).
SC – Mayeux 2 run (conversion failed).
Third Quarter
P – Sawyer Ladick 7 run (2-pt conversion good).
P – Ladick 40 pass from Sojka (conversion failed).
SC – Meyers 3 run (Green pass from Meyers).
Fourth Quarter
SC – Innman 22 field goal.
P – Jared Fox 10 pass from Sojka (Voight kick).
Team Statistics
Rushing (att-yards): Pittsville 18-27; Spencer/Columbus 64-357.
Passing (comp-att-yards-int): Pittsville 18-37-238-3; Spencer/Columbus 3-7-32-0.
Individual Leaders
Rushing: P, Eric Hahn 8-11. S/C, Charlie Mayeux 27-175, Kaleb Miller 15-81, Eathen Aden 9-47, Joe Meyers 11-47.
Passing: P, David Sojka 18-37-238-3. S/C, Meyers 3-7-32-0.
Receiving: P, Sawyer Ladick 6-129, Jared Fox 7-71, Nathan Dupee 4-27. S/C, Derrick Green 1-26.
Records: Pittsville 3-3; Spencer/Columbus 4-2.