CARTER MICKELSON scores a touchdown for Webster City against Spencer last Friday night. (DFJ photo by David Borer)

First-year Webster City football head coach Andy Brim will remember his home opener at Lynx Field for a multitude of reasons.

Thoughts of a gritty effort from his squad against fellow perennial Class 3A powerhouse Spencer; a 56-yard gallop to paydirt from junior running back Jaxon Griffith and a successful fourth-down pass that led to another score from senior quarterback Luke Estlund to junior wide receiver Carter Mickelson; the lights going out briefly in the fourth quarter — this game wasn’t short on storylines.

“Hey, it was an interesting game between two good teams,” Brim reflected after WCHS dropped to 1-1 overall with a 24-14 loss to the Tigers last Friday night. “This Spencer bunch is a quality program, and our guys proved themselves well throughout.

“We just had a bad break after the lights went out and then came back on with a fourth down that wasn’t converted. We couldn’t quite get the momentum back.”

The two sides each scored a touchdown per quarter in the first half for a 14-14 halftime tie. Despite a scoreless third stanza, the visitors took advantage of a short field and started to get their ground game going towards the end of the frame.

Senior quarterback Cael Bruning closed the march, rolling out to his left and finding senior wide receiver Ryan Matthiesen open for a score that gave the Tigers a 21-14 lead early in the fourth.

Webster City took the ensuing kickoff and surged to near Tiger territory before the lights went out at Lynx Field. After a serenade from the home student section of “Party In the USA” to the delight of the crowd, the lights were back, spotlighting a key 4th-and-2 call from the WCHS 36.

Unfortunately, for the Lynx, a low snap led to a loss of downs.

From there, Spencer took over and moved into field goal range while peeling time off the clock. Senior placekicker Brady Vreeman was successful from 28 yards out for a 10-point edge, then closed out the contest with an interception on the final Lynx offensive attempt.

Griffith’s TD run in the first quarter was part of an impressive 10-carry, 94-yard night. Cael Nixon, a senior, added nine rushing attempts for 25 yards.

Estlund rushed for 11 yards and also threw for 26 and the touchdown. Spencer was led by Bruning’s 76 yards rushing on 26 carries and a touchdown. He added 25 yards passing with one score.

Miles Robbins rushed nine times for 117 yards in the win.

“Moving forward, we just need to keep working towards cleaning up some things — executing better,” Brim said. “We’ll continue to do what we do and get better every day.”

Spencer 7 7 0 10 – 24

WCHS 7 7 0 0 – 14

SCORING SUMMARY

Spencer – Bruning 13-yard run (Vreeman kick)

WCHS – Griffith 56-yard run (Israel Torres kick)

WCHS – Mickelson 13-yard pass from Estlund (Torres kick)

Spencer – Miles Robbins 45-yard run (Vreeman kick)

Spencer – Vreeman 28-yard field goal

Spencer – Matthiesen 18-yard pass from Bruning (Vreeman kick)

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs – Spencer 15, WCHS 10

Rushes-yards – Spencer 42-239, WCHS 34-127

Passing yards – Spencer 25, WCHS 26

Return yards – Spencer 63, WCHS 98

Fumbles-recovered – Spencer 1-1, WCHS 2-2

Penalties-yards – Spencer 6-40, WCHS 3-20

Punts-average – Spencer 2-45, WCHS 5-31.6

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing – Spencer: Robbins 9-117, Bruning 20-76, Jack Berends 2-10, Kamden Young 10-36, Aaden Techen 1-0; WCHS – Griffith 10-94, Jayden Weintzel 7-(-3), Nixon 9-25, Estlund 8-11.

Passing – Spencer: Bruning 3-7, one interception, 25 yards; WCHS – Estlund 2-6, one interception, 26 yards.

Receiving – Spencer – Alex Staley 2-12, Matthiesen 1-13; WCHS – Mickelson 1-13, Dany Morales 1-9.