GRAND MEADOW —There was no secret to Grand Meadow’s philosophy Friday night as they beat Spring Grove 28-20 behind 312 team rushing yards.

The Superlarks (6-0 overall) only attempted two passes — both incomplete — while quarterback Caleb Leichtnam ran 41 times for 245 yards. Grand Meadow’s Richard Bain also chipped in with 17 rushes for 58 yards.

The game started scoreless through the first quarter, but Leichtnam scored on a 40-yard run early in the second quarter. He scored again on a three-yard touchdown run shortly after. However, Spring Grove running back Nick Reynolds scored shortly after on a 39-yard run to keep it 14-6 until the half.

Spring Grove (5-1 overall) came out aggressive on the ground in the third and capped off a nearly nine-minute drive with an 11-yard touchdown run by Reynolds to make it 14-12. Yet, Grand Meadow scored shortly into the fourth quarter with another Leichtnam touchdown after he converted on a fourth and one which was followed by a costly facemask penalty by Spring Grove.

“It was gut-check time, and our line really stepped up … Our passing game’s been non-existent but somehow our line kept opening up holes for five yards for our guys,” Leichtnam, who had been sick earlier in the week, said.

Penalties and fumbles proved to hurt Spring Grove as they committed three personal fouls in the second half and gave up a late fumble that set up a 19-yard Leichtnam touchdown run with 7:25 remaining in the game.

Spring Grove QB Blaine Storly scored with 5:38 to go in the fourth, but the Superlarks closed it out after converting another fourth and one with a minute left.

GM head coach Gary Sloan said he is very impressed with Spring Grove’s tackling ability but also admitted the Superlarks need to open the offense more.

“We’ve got to start passing the ball.”

Both Leichtnam and Sloan agreed that it was GM’s toughest game of the season.

“They made some mistakes, but we did some good things, too,” Sloan said.