Big Lake football went on the road last Friday and came home with a resounding 42-14 season opening victory over Columbia Heights. 

The recipe for the Hornet victory was a dominant rushing attack and a stifling defense. The win was the first season opening victory for Big Lake since 2019, and the first to come on the road since 2017. 

Despite the final score, the game got off to a rocky start for the Hornets. The Hylanders struck first with a 10-yard passing touchdown to take a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. Big Lake responded with a first quarter touchdown to tie the game at 6-6. But that was all the scoring that would take place in the first half, as neither side could find the endzone again. 

After the intermission was when the Hornets took over the game. They started the second half scoring five unanswered touchdowns, leading to a 42-6 lead. Columbia Heights scored late in the final quarter to make the final score 42-14. 

Defensively, the team suffocated their opponents for most of the game. That unit finished with 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, three forced fumbles, and two passes defended. Some standouts were Braedyn Wemple with eight total tackles and a fumble recovery. Alex John also with eight total tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. Jose Acuna forced a fumble and registered two tackles for loss. 

Tanner Muenkel was the team’s leading tackler with nine total tackles. However, the best performance may have belonged to Montell Hester. The junior had seven total tackles, two tackles for loss, two passes defended, and a fumble recovery which he returned 64 yards for a touchdown. 

The ground game was rolling for Big Lake’s offense, as they had three different players averaging over 10 yards per carry. Reid Josewski was the leading rusher with 153 yards and two touchdowns coming on just 14 carries. Also scoring two touchdowns was Hester. He added 132 yards on 11 carries. Quarterback Dillon Spaeth carried the ball seven times for 79 yards and a score. In total, the Hornets finished with 435 yards of offense and only punted once. Spaeth threw for 52 yards to go along with the 383 amassed on the ground. 

Up Next

Next week the team will face off against the Orono Spartans. That game will take place at Big Lake High School on Friday, September 6 at 7 pm.