AUSTIN — The Spring Grove football team is back, having reached the 9-Player football state tournament for the first time since the 2022 season.
The Lions, seeded second in the Section 1, 9-Player tournament, used a big second half to push past No. 1-seeded Lanesboro 36-12 in the championship game at Austin’s Wescott Field on Friday.
ADVERTISEMENT
The 8-3 Lions led 14-6 at halftime, but then put together a 22-point second half to run away with the win.
Lanesboro had its season finish at 8-3 overall.
“Getting back to state, it is an incredible feeling,” said Spring Grove coach Kody Moore, whose team lost to Mabel-Canton in last year’s section final. “We were really hungry to get another crack at it again. We used to take state for granted a little bit. But now we realize it’s not easy to get to this point.”
The Lions had lost to the Burros during the regular season, 36-25 on Oct. 14. They followed that with another loss — 20-7 to Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons — before winning three straight games in the section playoffs.
The Lions played excellent defense in the championship game, particularly in the second half.
“We were very physical,” Moore said.
The Spring Grove offense was led ...