Glenville-Emmons upsets No. 1 Superlarks with 2nd half rally

The Glenville-Emmons Wolverines football team advanced to their first ever section championship game Saturday with a 14-13 upset over the top-seeded Grand Meadow Superlarks.

Trailing 14-0 after the first quarter in the Section 1 Nine-Man semifinal at Grand Meadow, the No. 5 Wolverines (5-5, 5-5 Section 1 Nine-Man) scored 14 unanswered points and forced five turnovers en route to the win.

“It was a huge win for us,” Wolverines head coach Ryan Kelly said. “Our defense played spectacularly.”

The Wolverines lost to the Superlarks (8-2, 8-2) twice during the regular season 41-8 and 41-28, but this time Grand Meadow lost quarterback Caleb Liechtnam — their top playmaker — to injury in the first quarter.

After the Superlarks scored twice in the first quarter but failed on their second point after attempt, the Wolverines’ Derrick Olson scored on a three-yard run in the second quarter for the team’s first touchdown. Zack Williamson’s successful pass to Perry Kirsch on the two-point conversion pulled the Wolverines within 13-8.

Shortly after the Wolverines recovered a fumble late in the third quarter and ran it back to the Superlarks 10-yard line, Landon Hall scored on a one-yard run to put the Wolverines ahead for good 14-13.

The Superlarks drove deep into Wolverines territory twice in the fourth quarter but lost fumbles on each drive. They also outgained the Wolverines 351 to 189 total yards of offensive.

“Our defense played as hard as they have all year,” Superlarks head coach Gary Sloan said. “Those turnovers hurt us.”

Kirsch and Pete Hansen each had an interception and a fumble recovery, and Alex Golbuff had a fumble recovery for the Wolverines.

The Wolverines play the No. 3 Lanesboro Burros at 7 p.m. Friday in the Section 1 Nine-Man championship game in Lanesboro.

The Wolverines lost to the Burros 29-14 in the regular season on Sept. 19.

Glenville-Emmons 14, Grand Meadow 13

G-E 0 8 0 6 — 14

GM 13 0 0 0 — 13