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Spring Grove overcomes first-half turnovers to defeat Mountain Lake Area for Nine-Man title

By JOEL RIPPEL, Star Tribune, 11/23/18, 1:00PM CST

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Quarterback Alex Folz rushed for 257 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Lions to their second consecutive championship and an undefeated season.


Spring Grove quarterback Alex Folz (8) dove into the end zone for a touchdown in the first quarter, one of four he scored in the game. Photo: Shari L. Gross • shari.gross@startribune.com

Spring Grove senior Alex Folz is a two-way starter for the Lions.

“He never leaves the field,” Spring Grove coach Zach Hauser said, “and he never seems to get tired. It’s just a sign of his mental toughness.”

Folz showed his resolve on Friday as he overcame a season-high three interceptions — all in the first half — to score four touchdowns and lead the Lions to a 40-18 victory over Mountain Lake Area in the Nine-Man championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The victory was the 28th consecutive for the Lions in claiming their second consecutive state title.

“I didn’t read the defense well and you have to give the credit to Mountain Lake,” said Folz, who had thrown only five interceptions in the Lions’ first 13 games. “My teammates came over and said ‘we got this’ and our defense really picked me up.”

First report

Spring Grove overcame three first-half turnovers and pulled away for a 40-18 victory over Mountain Lake Area on Friday in the Nine-Man championship game at U.S.  Bank Stadium.

The Lions (14-0), who won their 28th consecutive game and second consecutive state title, led 14-6 at halftime and 20-6 going into the fourth quarter. The Lions scored twice in a two-minute span in the fourth quarter after two Wolverine turnovers.

Alex Folz rushed for 257 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Lions. Folz’s 88-yard touchdown run after an interception gave the Lions a 26-6 lead. Less than two minutes later, after another Lions interception, Folz scored on a 4-yard run to extend the Lions lead to 32-6.

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