MELROSE WENT UP AGAINST NEW LONDON-SPICER IN A FOOTBALL GAME

Melrose and New London-Spicer went up against each other in the Section 6 Class 3A section championship game. Going into the game Melrose was 8-2 and the No. 2 seed in the section. New London-Spicer was 8-1 and the No. 1 seed in the section.

Melrose kicked off to start the game. New London-Spicer got the ball on their own 29 yard line. New London-Spicer’s Trey Austovld came up with a nice first down run. New London-Spicer kept the ground-and-pound attack going throughout the first drive.

New London-Spicer called a timeout with 10:44 left in the first quarter. The game was still scoreless.

New London-Spicer’s Shane Zylstra came up with a first down reception. New London-Spicer quarterback Ethan Bohlsen came up with a first down on a run on a quarterback keeper. New

London-Spicer looked to get into the end zone on their first drive of the game. On fourth-and-18 New London-Spicer went for it. Zylstra tried to run with it but came up short.

Melrose took over on the 11 yard line. Melrose looked to air the ball out on their first offensive series. On fourth-and-eight Melrose punted the ball. There was no return.

New London-Spicer took over on their 45 yard line. New London-Spicer’s Austovld came up with a huge first down reception. The defense was able to slow down the New London-Spicer’s offense.

Melrose turned New London-Spicer over on downs.

Melrose running back Zack Pierskalla came up with a 32-yard run for a first down. Melrose was able to get the ball down the field using both the running and passing attack. Melrose turned the ball over on downs.

New London-Spicer took over on their own 26 yard line.

After one quarter of play the game was scoreless.

Austvold came up with a huge run for a first down. That set up a one yard touchdown run by Jared Travis. New London-Spicer lined up as they were going to kick the extra-point but instead they tried a two point --conversion which was no good.

With 9:21 left in the second quarter the score was New London-Spicer 6, Melrose 0.

Melrose took over on their own 23 yard line. Melrose was not able to move the ball on fourth-and-three they punted the ball. Zylstra caught the punt and ran 70 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt was good.

With 7:38 left in the second quarter the score was New London-Spicer 14, Melrose 0.

Melrose got the ball back after the touchdown. They went through the air as they moved the ball down the field. Melrose went for it on fourth-and-two. Melrose’s Anthony Welle came up with a first down catch. Welle also showed off his speed on the ground as he slipped by the defenders on the ground. On fourth-and-10 they went for it but were unsuccessful.

New London-Spicer took over on their own 11 yard line. New London-Spicer went deep as they wanted to move the ball down the field. On fourth-and-four they punted the ball. There was no return.

Melrose looked deep down the field late in the second quarter. They were not able to come up with anything late.

At halftime the score was New London-Spicer 14, Melrose 0.

As the third quarter got underway Melrose looked to get into the end zone. Melrose found the end zone on a one-yard run by Zach Pierskalla. The extra-point attempt was good.

With 9:09 left in the third quarter the score was New London-Spicer 14, Melrose 7.

New London-Spicer kept the ball on the ground and Zylstra came up with a 44-yard touchdown run.

The two-point conversion was good.

With 7:54 left in the third quarter the score was New London-Spicer 22, Melrose 7.

Melrose called a timeout with 5:18 left in the third quarter. The score was New London-Spicer 22, Melrose 7.

Melrose had trouble moving the ball down the field. On fourth-and-six Melrose punted the ball.

Austvold got the ball and was able to keep his feet moving and was able to get a first down. Austvold set up a six-yard touchdown run by Zylstra. The two-point conversion run by Austvold was good.

With 2:29 left in the third quarter the score was New London-Spicer 30, Melrose 7.

Melrose got the ball back after the touchdown and they took it to the air. The receivers had trouble holding the ball.

After three quarters the score was New London-Spicer 30, Melrose 7.

As the fourth quarter got underway the ball changed hands early in quarter.

Melrose got a touchdown on a Pierskalla scores on a two-yard run, Melrose attempted a two-point conversion. Pierskalla scores the two points on a run.

With 2:16 left in the fourth quarter the score was New London-Spicer 30, Melrose 15. That was the final score.

Zylstra said after the game that, “my team had a lot of open blocking and made plays throughout the game.”