By: Donovan W. Mann – [email protected]
Spencer, IA – Humboldt High School football sees their season come to an end on the road in the second round of the 2020 postseason.
On Friday, Oct. 23, Humboldt Wildcats football took to the road to face the Spencer Tigers for the second round of the postseason. It was the home team getting the win to advance 42-35.
The game was back and forth from kickoff to the final score of the game. Spencer received the ball to start the game and it only took two plays to find the endzone thanks to 58 yard touchdown run by Fullback Jon Nissen, the PAT was no good. Humboldt would quickly respond as they drove down the field and capped their opening drive off with a two yard touchdown run by Caden Matson, the kick was blocked. The first quarter would end with the game tied at six points.
In the second quarter the Wildcats struck first with Matson finding Gabe Gidel for a seven yard touchdown pass and catch, Humboldt tried a fake on the kick and failed to convert. With the score 12-6 Spencer took their second lead of the game on the very next drive thanks to a run by Kenny Rasch of 15 yards into the endzone, extra point kick was good. The halftime score was 13-12 in favor of Spencer.
In the third quarter Humboldt would get the ball to start the half and Matson would collect his second touchdown run on that drive, nine yards with the extra point good. Spencer came right back though after their Quarterback Jack DeWitt plowed it in from the one yard line, extra point good. Humboldt would be unable to respond and when Spencer’s offense got the ball back they would score on a 12 yard touchdown rush by Nissen. The end of the third quarter the score would was 27-19 Spencer.
Spencer would continue to build their lead to start the fourth quarter as once again the big Fullback Nissen got a rushing TD, this one from two yards out with a good extra point. Spencer leading by 15 and Humboldt’s offense getting the ball back with with nine minutes to go it wasn’t over. Humboldt went right down the field and Matson connected with Jacob Heier for a 24 yard touchdown pass on a first and goal from the 24 (following a Humboldt penalty). Humboldt went for two and converted to make it 34-27.
A penalty on the touchdown gave Humboldt extra yards to kick off and Max Mason provided a successful onside kick attempt where Humboldt’s offense got the ball back from the Spencer 33 yards. In what was a sloppy drive for both side in terms of Penalties (Spencer’s defense committed multiple pass interference infractions) Matson would connect with Will Orness for the six yard passing TD. Humboldt would convert the two point conversion and take a 35-34 led with about three minutes remain.
Spencer’s run game went for it all however. A few carriers by Jon Nissen resulted in a drive down the field and Nissen pounded it in from one yard out. Spencer converted on the two point attempt, giving them the 42-35 advantage. Humboldt got the ball back on offense with 46 seconds and from their own 26 yard line. On the first play of the drive however Matson would throw a deep ball that got intercepted and secured Spencer’s win.
The complete stat report from the game between Humboldt and Spencer is available on Varsity Bound.
Following the loss, Humboldt football’s season has come to a close in the second round of the postseason. The Wildcat’s final record on the season is 5-4.