The Exira-EHK Spartans came up a play shy of a huge road win on Friday night.  The 6th ranked Spartans lost 42-35 to top ranked Newell-Fonda in Newell.

The Spartans had driven the ball late deep into Mustang territory.  A run and a facemask call gave the Spartans first and goal on the 3 yard line.  On the next play the shotgun snap sailed over Quarterback Brady Hansen’s head and was scooped up in stride by Defensive End Cole Wise for the Mustangs who returned it the other direction for the winning touchdown with 29 seconds remaining.  The Spartans last ditch effort ended with a fumbled hook and lateral attempt that was covered up by Newell-Fonda.

The Mustangs extend their winning streak to 18 games dating back to last season’s State Championship squad and now stand at 7-0 for the 2015 campaign.  The Spartans fall to 6-1 with the loss.

Brady Hansen had touchdown runs of 4, 19, and 44 yards in the second half for the Spartans, the first two coming during a run of three straight offensive possessions.  After scoring to take the lead 21-20 on the first drive of the second half the Spartans were successful on an onside kick that caught Newell-Fonda off guard.  Exira-EHK took advantage and scored on Hansen’s second touchdown run 9 plays later to push their lead to 28-20.  On the next kickoff the Spartans has a short kick that was misjudged by the return man whom slipped and couldn’t get back to the ball before Cole Madsen recovered it again for the Spartans at the 9 yard line.  The Spartans drove to the 1 yard line but fumbled on 3rd down as Hansen stumbled during the exchange with Running Back Drew Buckholdt and the Mustangs recovered.

Newell-Fonda scored 4 plays later on a 57 yard touchdown run by Reed Kruse to tie the game.  Hansen’s 44 yard touchdown run on the next possession gave the Spartans the lead back at 35-28 with 1:40 left in the third.  But the last two scores would belong to the Mustangs as QB Jason Hess tied it on a 31-yard touchdown run with 8:30 to go setting up the dramatic finish.

The Spartans went for a 4th and short on their own 19 and got knocked back setting Newell-Fonda up with a short field.  But the Mustangs couldn’t capitalize being tackled on a 4th down completion at the one.  That set up the long late drive by the Spartans that ended with the fateful fumble.