Spencer/Columbus football uses powerful rushing attack to whip Manawa

Spencer/Columbus running back Xane Adler. (Pau Lecker file photo)

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MANAWA – Spencer/Columbus Catholic had three 100-yard rushers and pounded Manawa 36-8 in a Central Wisconsin Conference Large Division matchup Friday night at Little Wolf High School.

Will Gorst had 120 yards and two long touchdowns in the second half to lead the way for the Rockets, who improve to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the CWC Large.

Brock Bennington and Xane Adler each rushed for 103 yards and a score, and Bennington added a 26-yard touchdown reception from Cole Timmler for Spencer/Columbus.

The Rockets finished with 335 rushing yards and held Rosholt to just 137 total yards.

Despite completing 16 passes, Manawa only gained 55 yards on those catches as the Rockets’ defense was able to swarm the receivers.

Adler and Bennington also had interceptions on defense for Spencer/Columbus.

“Xane Adler got us going early and really ran hard tonight,” Spencer/Columbus coach Jason Gorst said. “Brock and Will joined him and we really liked our balanced rushing attack. Defensively, our coverage was great and we again forced turnovers. I’m proud of the effort.”

Spencer/Columbus will need to win one of its final two games to earn a WIAA playoff berth. The Rockets play at Stratford next Friday, Oct. 8, and will host Shiocton in the regular-season finale on Oct. 15. Both games will be live at zaleskisports.com.

Rockets 36, Wolves 8
Spencer/Columbus 14 7 0 15 – 36
Manawa 0 0 8 0 – 8
First Quarter

SC – Xane Adler 51 run (kick blocked.
SC – Brock Bennington 47 run (Adler run).
Second Quarter
SC – Bennington 26 pass from Timmler (Bennington kick).
Third Quarter
M – Tanner Nienhaus 37 run (Nienhaus run).
Fourth Quarter
SC – Will Gorst 28 run (Bennington run).
SC – Gorst 34 run (Bennington kick).
Team Statistics
First downs:
Spencer/Columbus 16; Manawa 10.
Rushing (att-yards): SC 43-335; M 16-82.
Passing (comp-att-yards-int): SC 3-7-27-0; M 16-31-55-2.
Total yards: SC 362; M 137.
Penalties (no.-yards): SC 6-55; M 1-10.
Fumbles (total-lost): SC 1-1; M 1-1.
Individual Statistics
Rushing:
SC, Wil Gorst 9-120, Brock Bennington 14-103, Xane Adler 13-103, Isaac Mauritz 2-10, Cole Timmler 5-minus 1. M, Tanner Nienhaus 8-69, Bryce Bartel 3-7, No. 26 1-3, Thomas Bartelt 1-3, Grant Bristol 2-0, Dakota Stroud 1-0.
Passing: SC, Timmler 3-7-27-0. M, Nienhaus 16-31-55-2.
Receiving: SC, Bennington 3-27. M, Bristol 5-27, Nathan Gorman 5-8, Jake Timm 2-12, Colten Prue 2-4, Bartelt 1-4, Connor Scheid 1-0.
Interceptions (defense): SC, Adler, Bennington.
Records: Spencer/Columbus 5-3, 3-2 Central Wisconsin Conference Large Division; Manawa 2-5, 1-4 CWC Large.