D.C. Everest football vs SPASH from Stevens Point, WI
STEVENS POINT, WI (EVERYTHING EVERGREENS-93.9 FM THE GAME) When the Evergreens arrived in Stevens Point Friday night, a driving rain started to fall as the team got off the bus. Their locker room was locked. They stood under a small overhang in the rain and wind for about 15 minutes.
The rain seemed like it would work the Everest’s advantage. SPASH is more of a pass-oriented team. The game began in a driving rainstorm. Throwing the ball would be difficult or impossible, and SPASH only managed one first down in the first quarter. The Evergreens were able to move the ball, but scored no points.
Midway through the second quarter, the rain stopped and SPASH was able to throw. They looked like a completely different team. The game would have played out much differently if the rain continued throughout the night.
But it was Everest mistakes, more than the weather, that turned the game against them. Everest turned the ball over twice on special teams. Both led to SPASH touchdowns. In the second quarter a mishandled snap gave the Panthers the ball at the 30-yard line. The drive that followed resulted in the first touchdown of the game. A muffed fair catch put SPASH’s offense back on the field in the third quarter and led to another touchdown.
And SPASH was aggressive when they needed to be. Three of their four scores came on fourth down. The final touchdown came when SPASH took a field goal off the board after an Everest penalty, and scored on a fourth down run.
The Evergreens continue to be a heavily penalized team, and seemed snakebit at times. SPASH’s touchdown just before halftime was aided by two personal fouls that accounted for 30-yards of field position. SPASH’s touchdown in the third quarter was aided by an incorrect pass interference call where the Everest defensive back was making a play on an overthrown pass over the middle. The Evergreens would later accept a holding penalty against Stevens Point, who converted on a 3rd and 24-play that kept their drive going. Everest’s Ty Strehlow was hurt late in the game on a late hit out of bounds that didn’t draw a flag.
The game was much more competitive than past meetings between Everest and SPASH. But that will be little consolation for the Evergreens, who fall to 3-3 this year and likely won’t repeat as conference champions. They’ll need wins against Wisconsin Rapids and Hortonville, and perhaps a victory against a to-be-named opponent in week nine to make the playoffs.
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