Superior breaks Lincoln 50-6
Nick Ianniello/Mineral Independent Superior Bobcat Drew Walen runs in a touchdown in Superior’s last game of the regular season against the Lincoln Lynx Friday night. The Bobcats won the game 56-20 for an undefeated season. The Bobcats begin playoff play Saturday at home against Charlo.
At the end of the Superior Bobcats last home game of the regular season Friday night, teammates huddled together for pictures on the field and head coach Dan Lucier shivered with pride.
Pride, or hypothermia. The team dunked him with their icy water cooler after winning their final game against Lincoln 56-20 and securing an undefeated season.
“The kids really deserve it. They’ve worked awfully hard and kept great focus,” Lucier said with his usual post-game grin through soaked clothes Friday night.
The Bobcats wasted no time in the first quarter of Friday night’s game, locking in a touchdown with a 43-yard pass to Tyler Stenberg. Yim Sribenjakul made a successful kick and the Bobcats had a 7–0 lead within the first two minutes of the game.
The Bobcats then forced the Lynx back into the end zone and Brian Labbe sacked the quarterback, picking up a safety for the team.
After successfully stopping the Lynx defense for much of the first quarter, Bobcat Rollin Rennick made a 55-yard sprint downfield after catching a Lynx kick for another Bobcats Touchdown. Sribenjakul once again came through for the Bobcats with a successful kick and the Bobcats took a 16 – 0 lead.
Lynx Tel Menard then caught a 53-yard touchdown pass from Jasper Eshelman. The Lynx failed in their attempt for a two-point conversion and the score stood at 16 – 6 with less than seven minutes to go in the first quarter.
Bobcat Drew Walen made a 15-yard run for another Bobcats touchdown, with Sribenjakul making a successful kick and bringing the Bobcats lead to 24 – 6 with less than five minutes left in the quarter.
With little time left in the first quarter, Bobcat Bajin Smith intercepted a Lynx pass and put the Bobcats on the 40 yard line. The Bobcats took advantage of the interception and Stenberg caught a 24-yard pass for another touchdown. After a successful kick from Sribenjakul, the Bobcats finished up the first quarter in the lead 29 – 6.
After a defensive standstill for much of the second quarter, the Bobcats scored a touchdown after Walen grabbed a 20 yard pass. Sribenjakul made a successful kick and the Bobcats lead widened to 36 – 6 with more than seven minutes left in the quarter.
The Bobcats continued to hold the Lynx defense at bay and scored another touchdown with a 17 yard pass to Walen. Sribenjakul delivered again on the kick and the Bobcats had a 43 – 6 lead with four minutes left in the half.
With two minutes left to go in the half, Stroot powered in a nearly 50-yard run for another touchdown. Sribenjakul belted in another kick and secured the Bobcats 50 – 6 lead for the first half.
Coming into the second half of the game, Lucier put in several members of the Bobcat’s junior varsity squad, including quarterback Tanner Coon.
The junior varsity team held their own against the Lynx, neither scoring nor allowing the Lynx to score during the third quarter.
However, after two touchdowns in the third quarter, Lucier decided to pull the junior varsity squad off the field.
“They were a little outmatched. Lincoln’s kids were pretty good and our kids were just a little bit below that,” Lucier said.
The Bobcats held the Lynx for the rest of the game, and with around three minutes left on the clock, Stroot ran the ball in for another Bobcats touchdown.
The Bobcats’ next game will be a home playoff game against Charlo Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.
Lucier said that while they have played Charlo before, they plan to work hard this week and make sure that they are ready for them Saturday.
“Just because we beat them before doesn’t mean we’ll come in and beat them again,” Lucier said.