Superior Bobcats move on to next playoff game

SUPERIOR – In their first playoff game, the Superior Bobcats made a decisive 66-24 win against the Broadview/Lavina Pirates, eliminating them from the competition.

The Bobcats played a strong game. Even with rain throughout the game, the team was able to keep ahead. According to Head Coach Allen Labbe, the Bobcats had fewer fumbles than would be expected with a wet ball.

“I was pretty pleased altogether by the fact we had as few [problems] as we did,” said Labbe.

Superior played a very strong game, only allowing the Pirates one touchdown per quarter.

Junior Wyatt Zylawy played amazingly well during the game, scoring four touchdowns and setting a stat of 76 rushing yards and 248 passing, both a game best. Senior Anthony Parkin also stood out with a game best 128 all-purpose receiving yards.

The entire team made good plays and had effective blocking strategies which kept the Pirates from making progress down the field. According to Labbe, everyone contributed to the win and no one member shouldered more responsibility than the others.

Labbe praised the Bobcats on playing a great game. He said there is not an individual who plays well on their own. Labbe felt in playoffs especially individual stats were less important and the team working together was a higher priority. He said if all eight players on the field were playing strong, the team would do well.

“I think it’s a team from this point on,” said Labbe. “Everything from this point on has to be about 18 guys, one heartbeat.”

Labbe said when playoffs arrive, they train a little of everything between games. He said it is important to remind the team of the basics and fundamentals, keeping those skills sharp and avoiding errors over basic rules.

“With kids, that might be the most important thing,” said Labbe. “Some [coaches] want to put in new offenses … I try not to do that, we have what we have and we need to perfect it.”

The Bobcats’ next playoff game will be Saturday, November 9, against Wibaux at 1 p.m. They will be travelling approximately 600 miles to the other end of the state for the game.

According to Labbe, Wibaux has a good team and said they “run the ball hard.” Labbe did not have any thoughts on how the game would go, saying he tries not to worry about the outcome of future games.

“That’s why we play games, to go out there and find out who can bring it on that day and win,” he said.

Since the game was in the early afternoon, the Bobcats had a congratulatory lunch after the game. Labbe invited the Broadview/Lavina players and coaches to join them in the Superior cafeteria and share in a post-game burger before heading home – a good show of sportsmanship to congratulate a good team whose football season had come to an end.