iFan.tv

 It was a beautiful night for football on Friday as the visiting Superior Spartan football team took the field against the Rice Lake Warriors for the 7pm kickoff in Rice Lake, Wisconsin.  With temperatures around 80 degrees, a big crowd had gathered for the second game for both teams.

    There was back and forth play for much of the first quarter until with 2:52 to go, Rice Lake junior quarterback Jake Kunz scored on a two yard run making it 6-0 for the Warriors.  The two point conversion attempt failed.

    On the ensuing possession, with 11:53 to go in the second quarter, the Spartans fumbled at their goal line and was recovered by senior linebacker, Easton Stone, for the six, and Rice Lake led 12-0 after the failed conversion attempt.     

    The Spartans then put together a beautiful drive, with great clock and time-out management, to set up a field goal attempt by junior kicker, Tanner Leno.  In last week's loss to Wausau West, Leno had made a 52 yard field goal which many feel is the longest field goal in Superior High School history.  (This is yet to be confirmed.}  As time expired in the first half, Leno put some points on the board with a field goal from 27 yards making the score 12-3, Rice Lake.

     After the half time intermission, many felt the Spartans were still in the game.  However, a  29 yard touchdown pass from Kunz to Connor Durand increased the Warrior lead to 20-3, as the 2 point conversion was successful. 

    On the next possession for the Spartans, an interception with two minutes in the third, turned into another score for Rice Lake as Kunz found Durand for another score from 40 yards which made the score 26-3 going into the fourth quarter.

    Rice Lake increased their lead to 34-3 on the strength of a 10 yard touchdown run by Kalvin Kelsey with 5:37 left in the game.  Superior's lone touch down came on a Taynum Clark run from 3 yards with the extra point added by Leno to make the final score 34-10.

    Sophomore Jacob Lyons was a bright spot for the Spartans on offense as he rushed for 49 yards and also had 63 receiving yards.  Clark was impressive on the ground with 61 yards and the lone touchdown.

    The Spartan were thwarted by three turnovers, one, a fumble recovered by Rice Lake in the end zone for 6 points.  The score was definitely not indicative of the effort put forth by Superior as Rice Lake took advantage of each takeaway.  

    Rice Lake improved their record to 1-1, after their first game loss to Menomonie, and the Spartans drop to 0-2 after their opening loss to Wausau West.

    The Spartans will travel to Menomonie on Friday, The Mustangs are 2-0 as a result of their Friday night win at DeForest, 28-6. 

    Friday's 7pm game in Menomonie can be seen on iFan beginning at 7pm with a 6:45 pm pregame.