Superior travels across the state for playoffs

SUPERIOR – The Superior Bobcats ended their playoff season after a defeat by the Wibaux Longhorns Saturday.

The game’s final score was 56 to 0 in Wibaux’s favor. According to Head Coach Allan Labbe, the Bobcats were out played by a stronger team. He said Wibaux had a good ground team and ran the ball well.

“We never really got on track,” said Labbe. “The harder we tried, the worse it got. One of those games where we just couldn’t get back into it.”

Labbe recalled how the Bobcats played against a team with similar strengths in last year’s playoffs. He said the difference with the game was in how the Bobcats were able to get touchdowns early and maintained a closer game to eventually win the game. Labbe attributed the victory to the team’s passing game.

Labbe said there were no excuses beyond the Longhorns playing a better game. He said Wibaux had a good team, which required a team playing at full-strength to beat. He does not know what he could have done differently, but would like to think there was something he could have done to improve the outcome.

The Bobcats had some good plays on defense. However, Labbe said they suffered many dropped balls, overthrows and failed interceptions. The Longhorns were able to sustain drives and prevent Superior from advancing down the field.

“They had a good full-back and a good half-back,” Labbe said. “They just took us out of the game.”

Overall, Labbe was proud of the Bobcats’ season. He said it was impressive to reach playoffs as the second seat in the west. To become one of the top eight teams in the state was something Labbe was excited about.

“We’re happy, but sad [about the outcome],” he said

Labbe said he will work with his coaching staff to prepare for next year and discuss plans for future seasons. He has made no plans to coach next season and said it is too early to make those decisions.

“There’s no way I’m going to start making plans for that right now,” said Labbe. “I’m just going to put away equipment [and] not make any decisions on that.”

Labbe will miss the seniors graduating this year and said he wished the final game had turned out differently. This was the last high school football game for Tucker and Tanner Smith, Anthony Parkin, Cole Karow, Jeff Price, Mat Ryan and Alex Billet.