Big plays vault Rockets to win in non-conference opener
Just 24 seconds into its 2021 season opener at home against Glenwood City, the Spencer-Columbus football team found itself trailing by a touchdown. Not a problem, once the Rocket offense found its footing.
Spencer-Columbus quickly recovered from the early Glenwood City score to notch a 51-28 win to kick off its 2021 campaign. The Rockets did it with big play after big play, including four touchdown runs of more than 40 yards.
The season didn’t start as planned for the Rocket defense, as Glenwood City struck on its first play from scrimmage for an 83-yard score. Quarterback Bryce Wickman hit receiver Brady McCarthy with a simple short out pass, but when two Rocket defenders collided while trying to make the tackle, McCarthy slipped loose and was off to the races.
Spencer-Columbus did not allow the big play to deflate its spirit.
“I was proud of the way our guys didn’t flinch with early adversity,” said Rocket head coach Jason Gorst.
The Rocket offense couldn’t move the ball on its first possession, but the defense redeemed itself its next time out. Sullivan Melander picked off a Wickman pass and returned it inside the Hilltopper 10-yard line, and Spencer-Columbus got its first touchdown of the year three plays later on a short Xane Adler run.
The teams traded punts on their next possessions. Late in the first quarter, Wickman fumbled as he was sacked by Brock Bennington, and the Rockets recovered at the Hilltopper 19-yard line. The offense needed just two plays to cash in, with Bennington carrying it to the end zone from eight yards out for a 13-7 Rocket lead.
Glenwood City took a risk on its next drive, going for it on a fourth-and-three from deep on its own end of the field. When the Rocket rush forced an incompletion and intentional grounding call, the Rockets had the ball back at the Hilltopper 27-yard line. On the first play of the second quarter, Will Gorst burst through the middle of the Glenwood City line for a 32-yard score and a 19-7 Rocket lead.
The SC defense forced another punt, but the offense fumbled away possession to set up the Hilltoppers near midfield. They turned the turnover into points, with Drew Olson catching a short Wickman pass and then making a move to get into the end zone to cut the score to 19-13 with 7:49 to play in the half.
The next SC drive was stopped on an interception, but the Rocket defense held. The offense then quickly covered 84 yards in two plays, with Bennington breaking a 67-yard run for a 25-13 lead. Glenwood City followed with a long drive that consumed the rest of the half, but the Rocket defense stopped two plays at the goal line to escape to the locker room with a 12-point lead.
Turnovers and punts were the story of the early second half, with SC losing possession once on a fumble and Carson Schmidt intercepting a Wickman pass to end a Hilltopper drive.
Following a punt, Spencer-Columbus drove 58 yards in four plays to take command of the game. Cole Timmler got the touchdown on a 10-yard run for a 32-13 lead at the 5:23 mark of the third quarter. Following another Hilltopper 3-and-out, the Rockets scored again, this time on Timmler’s 59-yard run. That made it a
DEAN LESAR/STAFF PHOTO 38-13 game with 2:54 left in the quarter.
Each team added late long touchdown runs, including a 63-yarder from Bennington. He finished the game with 236 yards on 11 rushes. Timmler gained 105 yards on six carries and Gorst went for 101 yards on six carries.
Glenwood City relied largely on its passing game, but Wickman completed just 13 of 36 throws for 246 yards. He was picked off three times.
Coach Gorst said the Rockets had their hands full with the Hilltopper aerial game, but found ways to make plays.
“Our defense was solid against the run and made big plays against the pass to give us a short field.,” he said. “ Carson Schmidt and Nate Rucker had great nights at inside backer along with Sully Melander on the edge.”
The Spencer-Columbus offense was plagued somewhat with timing issues, but the end result was still a 372-yard total offense night.
“Our running game was very solid and well balanced. Brock, Will and Cole all had big nights,” Coach Gorst said. “We have a lot of mistakes to clean up but its a good start to the season.”
Spencer-Columbus will begin Central Wisconsin-Large Conference action this Friday night at Colby. It will then head to Wittenberg- Birnamwood for another conference game on Sept. 3.
DEAN LESAR/STAFF PHOTO
Spencer-Columbus’ Brock Bennington jars the football loose from Glenwood City quarterback Bryce Wickman in a first-half play in the Rockets’ 51-28 win over the Hilltoppers on Aug. 19 in Spencer. The Rocket defense fell on the loose ball and converted the turnover into a touchdown that put Spencer-Columbus ahead 13-7 in the first quarter. Bennington had a big night on both sides of the ball as he also rushed for 236 yards on 11 carries.
