The Big Lake football team fell 54-12 to Orono last Friday. The Spartans only outgained the Hornets by five yards, but they scored four non-offensive touchdowns, which were the difference.  

Orono started the scoring right out of the gate by returning the opening kickoff 80 yards for a score. They closed out the opening quarter by scoring off of a blocked punt to take a 21-0 lead into the first break. 

In the second quarter, two Hornet turnovers led to two more scores for Orono. An interception early in the quarter set the Spartans up with a short field, which they capitalized on to take a 28-point lead. And Orono returned an interception for a touchdown with just under a minute remaining in the half to head into the locker room leading 41-0. 

Big Lake struck first after the break, driving right down the field and scoring on a 20-yard Carson Stromberg run. But the Spartans responded by, again, returning the kickoff for a score. Each team would score once more, the Hornets’ coming on a Reid Josewski 10-yard run, to make the final 54-12. 

Braedyn Wemple led the defense with 12 total tackles, with Jose Acuna and Montell Hester not far behind with seven each. Hester also added a sack and a forced fumble along with 46 yards rushing. 

Dillon Spaeth finished 10-15 passing with 79 yards passing and 13 on the ground. His top receiver was Caleb Martin with three catches for 46 yards. Stromberg added 37 yards to go along with his touchdown and Josewski totaled 19 yards. 

The loss drops the team’s record to 1-1 heading into next week’s matchup against Mound Westonka. The WhiteHawks will come to town with a 2-0 record and a 93-13 point differential on the year. The game took place at Big Lake High School this past Friday.