Trip to Racine for playoffs follows second place SWAL finish

By Matthew Goninen

Last Friday Night, the Mineral Point Pointers took down the Cuba City Cubans 14-7 to finish in second place in the SWAL.

The game was a sloppy battle in which both teams fought through with rain, cold temperatures, and strong wind gusts.

Cuba City would move the chains on their first drive but eventually had to punt. The Pointer offense would get moving early as Gibsen Sporle would gain 21 yards on a QB keeper. Facing fourth and two later in the drive, Cuba City would jump offsides, giving Mineral Point a fresh set of downs. Sporle would cap off the drive for Mineral Point, finding the endzone on an 18-yard designed run. Bryce Vamstad would make the PAT to put the Pointers up 7-0 early in the first quarter.

Neither team would be able to put together a drive to end the first. Following a Cuba City punt, the Pointers would get the ball back. Brock Lynch would have a couple of nice runs. However, the Pointers would turn the ball over as Punter Reid Acherman could not make it to the line on a fake punt run. 

Following another Cuban punt, Gibsen Sporle would throw an interception to Cuba City. Cuba City would move the chains a few times. After moving the ball down to the Mineral Point 30-yard line, quarterback Tyson Richard would throw an interception to Luke Filardo.

Cuba City would force a turnover on a third and 10 sack fumble, and Tyson Richard would find Gavin Vaassen in the endzone for the only Cuba City touchdown of the game. Wyatt Lisk would connect on the PAT. The two teams would take a 7-7 tie to the halftime break.

Mineral Point would put together a long, productive drive to open the third quarter. Following a couple of strong runs from Reid Acherman, Sporle would take a keeper for 30 yards. Sporle would complete a 14-yard pass to the five-yard line to set himself up for a rushing touchdown to complete the drive. Bryce Vamstad would connect on the PAT to give Mineral Point the 14-7 lead early in the third quarter.

“I thought our guys prepared really well,” head football coach Justin Leonard said. “I thought they played very well too. Everything was good all week.”

The remainder of the game would be sloppy by both teams; neither team would score, and both teams would turn the ball over multiple times.

Mineral Point would get the ball back and move the ball down the field, however, a fourth down penalty would move the ball back for Mineral Point, and Bryce Vamstad would not be able to make the 25-yard field goal.

The Pointers would get the ball back following a Cuban turnover on downs. Gibsen Sporle would find Tremaine Kennicker across the middle of the field for a 38-yard gain. Following a penalty and a few short runs, the Pointers would miss another field goal.

“We left some points off the board, but those are things that we will correct this coming week,” Coach Leonard mentioned.

Neither team was able to move the ball for the remainder of the game, and Mineral Point would come away with the 14-7 win.

The Mineral Point Pointers have received a #5 seed in the WIAA D6 Football Playoffs. They will travel to Racine Lutheran High School tomorrow night for a Level 1 battle with the Crusaders. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00. 

“They are a very good team and are coached well. It is going to be a very competitive game,” coach Leonard added.