Lincoln, NE - The Spartans scored on a Drew Zobel fumble recovery in the end zone with 6:17 to go in the game to hold on and collect their first win of the 2009 season against the Bulldogs of North Platte 13-12. A key interception by Justin Hill at the Spartan 13 yard line shutdown any chance of a North Platte come from behind win. Devon Nash had a big night for the Spartans with a total 10 tackles, including one sack and two tackles for losses. Nash was responsible for a forced fumble and an interception to set up the winning drive for the Spartans.

The opening drive for North Platte ended with the Nash forced fumble on the East 22 yard line.  T.J. Gibbons was credited with the Spartan recovery.  Neither team was able to put points on the scoreboard in the first quarter.  Penalties were key in the first quarter drives for both sides. East on the evening finished with 8 penalties for 59 yards., which is very high for an East High coached team.

First drive of the second quarter resulted in the first touchdown for the season for the Spartans.  Zobel rushed around right end and used his track speed for a 32 yard run.  The touchdown came at the 11:07 mark and only took 4 plays and 1:51 seconds.  The Bulldogs came back with a 12 play drive covering 51 yards and 5:32 of clock.  The drive ended on a 42 yard field goal try that came up short by Aaron Smith.   North Platte had it's best chance of getting back into the game on the next East drive when Zobel fumbled on the East 29 yard line and was recovered by Ty Barker.   Spartans Connor Cullighan stepped up big for the Spartans by sacking Bulldog quarterback Justin Kemper for a 10 yard loss.  North Platte failed to produce in 4 plays and turned the ball back to the Spartans. and East went into halftime with a 7-0 lead.

A great kickoff by Nick Kohler pinned the Bulldogs on the 10 yard line to start the second half.  One play later quarterback Kemper rambled 90 yards to score for the Bulldogs.  A missed extra point by Aaron Smith left the Spartans still on top 7-6.   The Spartans were unable to mount more than 5 plays and out before North Platte took their second possession of the half to another Bulldog touchdown.   Seven plays, and 82 yards Kemper found John Nielsen on a 22 yard touchdown pass.  With 4:51 to go in the third quarter the Bulldogs were unsuccessful on their 2-point try and North Platte lead 12-7.  Both teams stiffened on defense and stopped each other on two drives to end the third quarter.

On the first drive of the fourth quarter for North Platte , Devon Nash came up big for the Spartans with an interception and the ball on the North Platte 39 yard line.   Spartan quarterback, Bryce Bostwick began to chew yards down the field to the North Platte 9 yard line.   First and goal lead to 4th and goal from the North Platte 4 yard line when Bostwick rushed to the right and appeared to be in for the touchdown.  However, the officials ruled a fumble on the play and Zobel jumped on the ball in the North Platte end zone for a Spartan winning touchdown.   Two point try for Spartans failed  and with 6: Bost17 to play in the game, East was leading 13-12.   North Platte received the kickoff and marched straight down the field and in 5 plays were on the East 21 yard line.  The defense front of the Spartans put lots of pressure on Kemper and Justin Hill was able to pick off the pass on the Spartan 13 yard line with 3:08 in the game.

The Spartans needed to move the ball and come up with a first down to kill the clock and that's what they did with superb blocking and 20 yards by Bostwick in two key runs. Bostwick finished the night with 17 attempts and 101 yards rushing.   North Platte's number one quarterback was injured the week before against Norfolk so, Kemper, filled in nicely with 124 yards rushing on 13 attempts and 114 yards passing.  John Nielsen, the big speedy back for North Platte finished with 85 yards on 20 attempts.  Except for a few long runs, the Spartan defense held the Bulldogs to a 3 for 9 on third down conversion plays and a 0-2 on fourth down conversions.   The Spartans also gained the advantage in the turnover ratio with plus one.   Next week the Spartans will face North Star at Seacrest field.   North Star was soundly defeated by Southwest this past weekend.