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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
SPENCER – Paul Selz threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Jared Boyle in the fourth quarter to lead Spencer/Marshfield Columbus to a 23-22 comeback win over Neillsville in a Cloverbelt Conference football battle Friday at Spencer High School.
The win assures Spencer/Columbus (4-4, 4-3 Cloverbelt) at least a .500 record in conference play and consideration for a WIAA postseason berth. The Rockets wrap up their regular season Thursday at undefeated and first-place Colby (8-0, 7-0). Neillsville will need a win in its finale at Osseo-Fairchild (7-1, 6-1) to be considered for a playoff spot.
Boyle’s 21-yard field goal gave Spencer/Columbus a 16-14 lead in the third quarter only to see Neillsville respond in the fourth on a 9-yard score by Ryan Noughton in the fourth. Neillsville added a 2-point run to take a 22-16 lead.
Boyle’s touchdown and extra point provided the winning margin in the fourth quarter for the Rockets.
Spencer/Columbus outgained Neillsville 350-250 and forced three interceptions while committing no turnovers.
Wyatt Phillips had 87 yards and Travis Pischel added 86 as the Rockets rolled up 252 yards on the ground at 6.0 yards a clip. Pischel had a 62-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
Boyle had three catches for 54 yards and had an interception on defense, as did Phillips and Pischel.
Rockets 23, Warriors 22
Neillsville 0 14 0 8 – 22
Spencer/Columbus 0 13 3 7 – 23
Second quarter
N – Dodger Bautch 8 run (No. 12 kick).
S/C – Travis Pischel 62 run (Jared Boyle kick).
N – Ryan Naughton 2 run (Adam Sutton kick).
S/C – Luke Kromanaker 33 pass from Paul Selz (kick failed).
Third quarter
S/C – Boyle 21 field goal.
Fourth quarter
N – Naughton 9 run (Naughton run).
S/C – Jared Boyle 38 pass from Selz (Boyle kick).
NTEAM STATISTICS
First downs: Neillsville 11, Spencer/Columbus 15
Rushing (att-yards): Neillsville 45-193, Spencer/Columbus 42-252.
Passing (comp-att-yards-int): Neillsville 3-8-57-3, Spencer/Columbus 5-13-98-0.
Fumbles (total-lost): Neillsville 4-0, Spencer/Columbus 0-0.
Penalties: Neillsville 3-20, Spencer/Columbus 1-5.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: N, Allen Loomis 19-100, Ryan Naughton 15-96, Dodger Bautch 2-9, Adam Sutton 9-minus 12. S/C, Wyatt Phillips 11-87, Travis Pischel 11-86, Paul Selz 16-60, Jordan Buss 3-13, Adam Skrzeczkoski 1-6.
Passing: N, Sutton 3-8-57-3. S/C, Selz 2-5-71-0, Buss 3-8-27-0.
Receiving: N, Derek Zickert 1-31, Bautch 1-13, Ben Struensee 1-13. S/C, Jared Boyle 3-54, Luke Kromanaker 1-33, Hunter Reckner 1-11.
Punting: N, Bautch 3-34.7 avg. S/C, Kromanaker 5-33.4 avg.
Interceptions: N, none. S/C, Boyle, Pischel, Phillips.
Records: Neillsville 3-5, 3-4 Cloverbelt Conference; Spencer/Marshfield Columbus 4-4, 4-3 Cloverbelt Conference.
The original box score posted with this story was incorrect due to an error in the statistics provided. MarshfieldAreaSports.com apologizes for the error. The statistics and box score are now official.