A comeback for the ages extended the Luxemburg Casco Spartans season, as they erased a halftime deficit to take down the Fox Valley Lutheran Foxes, 38-36, as heard on 104.1 WRLU.
A scoreless first quarter with some big defensive plays by Luxemburg Casco including a Mason Trimberger interception early in the game kept the game scoreless through the opening quarter. With the Spartans knocking on the door of scoring early in the second quarter, but the Foxes defense held and forced a turnover on downs at their own 10 yard line. On the first play of the possession, quarterback Gabe Heiges connected with Jacoby Dobberstein for a 90 yard touchdown to give Fox Valley Lutheran an early 7-0 lead. Luxemburg Casco put together another good drive but it ended with a punt that pinned FVL at their own 6 yard line. Once again, the Foxes scored on its opening play, a 94 yard touchdown run by Blessings Kapande. Facing a 14-0 deficit, the Spartans offense rallied and drove down the field, capping off the drive with a 15 yard touchdown pass from Eli Derenne to Tatem Klaubauf. Jacob Walton made the extra point, cutting the deficit in half to 14-7. Fox Valley Lutheran had an answer, as Kapande scored again in the late part of the second quarter, this time from 12 yards out to give the Foxes a 21-7 lead going into halftime.
The Spartans got the ball to start the second half, and drove down the field, with Cam Dorner rushing in from 10 yards out to cut the deficit to 21-14. LC got a defensive stop, forcing the Foxes to punt, and capitalized once again, tying the game on another Dorner touchdown from 10 yards out. Fox Valley Lutheran had a response, as Heiges pulled down the ball and took the QB keeper for a 10 yard touchdown to grab the lead back at 28-21. Luxemburg Casco was able to answer back, as Dorner scored his 3rd touchdown of the game, this time a direct snap from 4 yards out to knot things back up at 28-28. The Spartans defense forced a punt, and with a chance to grab its first lead of the game, Brayden Loritz scored his first touchdown of the game on a 3 yard keeper. Fox Valley Lutheran had one more answer, getting a 1 yard touchdown from Kapande to bring the game to 35-34. The Foxes went for two, and used some trickery with a reverse pass to Heiges to take a 36-35 lead with 0:57 remaining. Luxemburg Casco got a great kick return from Dorner to get across midfield and put together a drive with some big passes by Derenne to march down the field. With just 0:09 left in the game, Coach Seering turned to Wyatt Bailey to attempt a 24 yard field goal for the lead. Bailey’s kick was good, putting the Spartans in front 38-36. Following a squib kick, Fox Valley Lutheran had just 0:04 left to try to pull off a miracle, but Heiges’ pass was knocked incomplete to seal the win for the Spartans.
We spoke to Coach Seering after the game, as he credits his players effort in the comeback, and gives a look ahead to next week.
The Spartans will travel to Plymouth next week for Level 2 of the WIAA Division 3 playoffs. We will carry that game on 104.1 WRLU and the NEW Radio Sports Network.
