Spring Grove Advances To Prep Bowl

The Spring Grove Lions were dominant from start to finish in their rout of Cromwell-Wright Thursday afternoon at U.S Bank Stadium. The Lions jumped out to a 28-0 in the first quarter en route to their 48-12 win.

The Lions scored quickly and efficiently in the first quarter. Alex Folz capped of a  the first drive of the game with a 24-yard touchdown, then Folz connected with Kai Bjerke for a 44-yard score to give the Lions a 12-0 lead with over 7 minutes to go in the quarter. The Lions kept the offense humming when Folz found the paydirt from 3 yards and 1 yard out.

Before you even knew it, the Lions were up 28-0 at the end of the first quarter.

The defense of Spring Grove was just as tough on Cromwell-Wright. Their power running game was stopped early and allowed the Lions to keep great field position. Short passes were the biggest reason why Spring Grove could move the football, as Folz threw numerous bubble screens to the outside that the Cardinals just couldn't stop.

Noah Elton caught a 1-yard touchdown pass in the middle of the second quarter to make it 35-0, but then the Cardinals found some life. Kannon Korpela ran in a 65-yard score to make it 35-6.

The Lions would find the end zone one more time before the half when Folz hit Takoda Boyd for a 44-yard touchdown, and then with seven seconds left Korpela caught a pass from 8-yards out and it was 42-12 at the break.

The Lions offense was clicking on all cylinders, and when they get moving they are tough to stop. The defense was just as tough, slowing down the rushing attack of Cromwell-Wright.

Spring Grove found the end zone one more time in the fourth quarter when Folz hit Boyd one more time from 24 yards out to make the score 48-12.

Elton finished the game with 13 catches for 146 yards, while Folz was 25-for-34 for 368 yards and four scores, along with rushing for 85 yards and three scores. Elton was named KFIL's Subway Player of the Game while Folz earned the Kingsley Mercantile Game Ball.

Korpela ran for 80 yards and two scores, while Cameron Cahoon ran for 130 yards to lead the Cardinals.

Cromwell-Wright was without their starting quarterback and that made a big difference in their offense that struggled to throw the football.

The win sends Spring Grove to the State Championship, they will kick off at 10 am from U.S Bank Stadium against the winner of Mountian Iron-Buhl vs. Mountian Lake Area. The game will be broadcasted on 103.1 KFIL!