Action for the Spartans didn’t take long, as Schneckloth escaped the left side for 63 yard touchdown on the second play of the game.   Eric Conner provide the PAT and the Spartans were up on top 7-0 with 11:08 to go in the first quarter.   Then it was the Spartans defense turn as they held Columbus to a three plays and out situation.  A 22 yard punt gave the ball right back to East on the East 43 yard line.   Ten plays, 57 yards including runs of 21 yards by Tahner Pinkman and 27 yards by Schneckloth and 5:18 of clock time, Blake Whitney plowed over the offensive line to give the Spartans a 14-0 lead after a Connor PAT.   I’m positive Columbus did not know what hit them when the defense pulled a second three and out situation on the next Columbus drive.  After one quarter of play East lead 14-0 and had 163 yards rushing to Columbus 11.

The start of the second quarter was no better for the Discoverers as the Spartan defense pulled a third three and out situation.  The uneventful second quarter found both defenses  shore up their duties but, Mason Tyrrell ran 16 yards on a wild cat play and Schneckloth had a run 19 yards for second quarter highlights.  At the half East had maintained the 14-0 lead and had held Columbus to 25 yards rushing while East had gained to 218 yards.

Columbus came out of the locker room as if they had their hind ends handed to them at the half-time speech. The Discoverers marched down the field on 8 played covering 60 yards before Tommy Ernst rushed over the left side for a 24 yard touchdown.  Ernst had 79 yards rushing on the night and 18 tackles on defense for Columbus.  After the extra point Columbus had some momentum down 14-7 and stopped the Spartans on three plays to get the ball back again.   Columbus marched down the field again to the East 26 yard line with 3:18 to go in the third quarter, before Jared Nelson powered rushed from his defensive end position and snapped the ball from quarterback Jake Ek on a sack and fumble recovery to stop the drive.  At the end of the third quarter East was still holding on with a 14-7 lead.

The fourth quarter the Spartans proved powerful as the stopped Columbus on the first fourth quarter drive with a three and out.   The defensive effort sparked the offense to come out and move 12 plays, 58 yards and use 6:00  of fourth quarter clock and score when Schneckloth rushed 10 yards up the middle to give the Spartans the insurance touchdown.  Schneckloth had 56 yards rushing the drive and Whitney plunged the needed 2 yards for a critical 4^th down conversion.  Down 21-7 Columbus moved the ball 32 yards down the field before Bohl recorded an interception on the East 39 yard line.  East received the ball with 4:23 to go in the game and melted the clock with Schneckoth caring the load with 45 yards of rushing ball control.  The Spartans showed the visitors and the rest of the state what sportsmanship is all about when they took a knee with 1:13 to go and on the Columbus 5 yard line.  Seniors Bohl and Jared Nelson lead the Spartans with 9 and 8 tackles respectively.   The Spartans will head to the state playoffs next week when the play Omaha Central for the second time.  Just remember Spartans that Central begins with the letter C.  Think Columbus.  For the second straight year East had spoiled the Discoverers final game of a good season.  For the second year in a row the Spartan seniors stepped forward to prove that they were a good football team. The playoff birth will be the first since 2007 for the Spartans. Last year, the season was over, this season they have another chance to expand that success and bring the underclassmen forward next year after they had an 18-4 season.  I couldn’t be more excited for a group of really nice kids.  They will go far in the world.