Down 28-0 in the first half, the third-ranked Stevens Point Area High School (SPASH) football team used a third-quarter rally to tie Wisconsin Rapids, only to fall in overtime at Community Stadium at Goerke Field Friday, Sept. 24.

The Panthers (5-1, 4-1) used three third-quarter touchdowns to tie the game at 28-28, and then scored a touchdown with 1:33 remaining in the fourth quarter to even it up at 35-35 and send their Homecoming Game into overtime.

There, Rapids (5-1, 4-1) converted on third-down-and-17 with a pass to the SPASH two-yard line, and followed with a two-yard touchdown run to win 41-35 and claim the Ol’ River Jug.

“It was an unreal battle,” said SPASH senior running back Gus Turner-Zick. “The emotions are high, just because of the jug and everything.

“And we know that we should’ve played better,” he said.

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