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Tigers stomp Warriors, Kuehn sets records

By Ari Selvey 4 min read

SPRINGFIELD -- Four minutes into the first quarter of a Mid-South District football game between Springfield and BOLD, the Tigers held a 7-6 lead as the offense headed onto the field for its second drive.

But there was little drama after that moment, as the Tigers scored in two plays to make it a 14-6 game. Springfield held a 40-6 lead at halftime and finished the game with a dominating 75-6 win, its largest margin of victory of the season.

Parker Kuehn set a Springfield single-game passing yardage record and tied the passing touchdown record in the game, passing for 514 yards and seven touchdowns. The passing yardage number is also good for third-most all time in the state of Minnesota, while seven touchdowns are good for a many-way tie for a second place in the state, according to mshsl.org.

"It means a lot," Kuehn said. "It all goes back to the coaches and the line and the receivers. They're the best, and they just help me get to the place where I can be. It's really just our team record I think, and I'm really grateful for the time I get up front, the plays that are called and the guys who make the catches. Really thankful for them."

Springfield has had no shortage of talented passers over the past years, and Kuehn, who is also approaching several career passing records for the Tigers, enters the record books with perhaps the most accomplished single game in Springfield history.

"The team has just helped me out really big," Kuehn said. "I think practice every day -- how we practice, how we play -- just preparing for games really helps me to come out and play my best when Friday night comes along. Definitely the practicing and the weight room and the teammates."

Kuehn also has the third-most passing yards in a game for Springfield with 387, which he set last season, also against BOLD.

Also for Springfield, Madden Lendt had six receptions for 215 yards and three touchdowns, while Connor Schmitt had 138 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground.

After forcing a three-and-out from the Warriors on the first drive of the game, Springfield needed just one play to score its opening touchdown as Kuehn connected with Lendt for a 59-yard touchdown. Bold got its lone touchdown on the day as running back Gabriel Bergstrom ripped off a 66-yard rushing touchdown after shedding some tackles, but Springfield responded with another quick score and Kuehn hit Lendt for a 60-yard TD. A BOLD punt led to another Springfield scoring drive, with a 40-yard completion to Moriarty and a 15-yard pass to Carter Jackson set up a 5-yard Jackson touchdown rush and a 20-6 lead. BOLD punted again, but this time Springfield fumbled it back. Springfield limited the damage as a pressure by Tyson Horkey forced an incompletion and a turnover on downs, and Springfield capitalized with a 30-yard rushing touchdown by Jackson and a 26-6 lead. A BOLD turnover on downs later, and Lendt had his third receiving touchdown of the half as he took a post 35 yards for the score to put Springfield up 32-6. Springfield scored another touchdown as Moriarty took a pop pass 30 yards to the house as the Tigers took a 40-6 lead into halftime.

Springfield continued to put on the points in the third quarter as Kuehn connected with Ely Streich for a 33-yard touchdown, then with Leo Hovland for a 58-yard touchdown. Jackson added a 27-yard touchdown run and Schmitt had a 12-yard touchdown run to make it a 67-6 game at the end of the third quarter. Schmitt added an 86-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to wrap up the 75-6 victory.

Springfield (5-0) hosts 4-2 Sleepy Eye United on Thursday.

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