MONS, Belgium – SHAPE secured a home-field playoff game Saturday with a convincing 43-14 win over fellow Division II North contender Baumholder.
The host Spartans and visiting Bucs entered the game tied at 3-1. With the victory, SHAPE clinches the north’s second seed and will host a quarterfinal game next Saturday.
SHAPE star Conner Manning tilted this anticipated matchup lopsided by providing the game’s first three touchdowns, two on the ground and one 55-yard score via air to receiver Austen Eperjesi. Brett Cain found Kristjan Lozar twice for two more Spartan touchdowns before halftime as SHAPE constructed a 33-6 halftime lead.
Eimad Ismail added a touchdown run and Adrian Domijan a 42-yard field goal after halftime to complete SHAPE’s offensive outburst.
Demonte Fisher scored on an 80-yard kick return and Austin Van Doren on a 5-yard run for Baumholder. Fisher added 95 rushing yards on 11 carries.
Cain completed all three of his attempts for 92 yards and two touchdowns and Manning went 2-for-2 for 100 yards and a score. Manning also collected 161 yards on 14 carries and two rushing touchdowns.
Clay Coon led the Spartan defense with seven solo tackles, six assists, a sack and a fumble caused. Taylor Ator and Lozar each recovered a fumble, while Eperjesi nabbed an interception.
Isaak Giefer led the Bucs with 10 tackles and a sack; Nobleman Soule added nine tackles and a sack.