Lincoln, NE - Specialty teams, offense and defense rose to the occasion to stop a pesky Columbus team 21-9. Spartans fans of over 2,000 filled Beechner field to see their Spartans dominate the Discoverers in the first half.

Field position was key for Columbus in the first half as they ran over 20 plays in Spartan territory however, it was East's defense that turned them away each time. Mike Ziola did provide the first points of the game when he nailed a 47 yard field goal to give Columbus a 3-0 lead. On the very next possession Matt Palm drove the Spartans down the field 92 yards to pay dirt when Harry Meginnis rambled 4 yards to cap the scoring drive and put the Spartans on top 7-3.

Later in the second quarter the Spartans drove 80 yards down field to score on a 1 yard run by Meginnis. The Spartans managed over 200 yards on the ground during the first half of domination.

The Spartans managed to kill a couple of drives with fumbled snaps in the second and third quarter which could of wrap up a early night for East. Columbus came alive in the second half behind quarterback Mike Ziola. Ziola was the punt, pass and kick champion of the night with 106 yards of field goals, 174 yards in 4 punts, and 147 yards passing. Ziola managed to kick field goals from 27 yards in the third quarter and 32 yards in the fourth.

East drove down the field again after Columbus made the score 14-9 and stalled inside the 10 with a 4th down fumbled snap. The Spartan defense came alive and special teams took over. Ziola out kicked his coverage when he boomed a 68 yard punt and senior Justin Burns took advantage of it. Burns returned the punt 64 yards to setup a final touchdown by Matt Palm with a 2 yard run. Palm finished his second game over 100 yards with a rushing total of 152 yards on 25 carries.

The Spartan defense played tough all night and a first quarter 3rd down stop by captain Sam Meginnis gave Spartan fans an anxious moment as the collision could be heard in downtown Lincoln. Both the ball carrier and Meginnis seemed to be stung by the hit.

Next week the Spartans will meet cross-town rival Lincoln Northeast. Northeast will be sporting a 3-2 record and we definitely pull out all tricks, gimmicks and motivation to turn the Spartans away again. Northeast has won the rival the last three years. This will be an early game at Seacrest and will be East's homecoming.