Spartans finish year with 61-24 victory

 EXIRA -- The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton football team finished the 2017 season on a good note Friday night, outscoring East Mills 61-24 to secure a winning record. The Spartans closed shop at 5-4 overall and 4-3 in 8-Player, District 7, tied with CAM for third place.
 Junior Cole Burmeister had a night to remember for Exira-EHK, carrying the ball 18 times for 154 yards and two touchdowns while also hauling in four catches for 74 yards and one TD. He wasn't done, adding two TD passes (52 and 26 yards) in just three attempts, returning an interception 41 yards for a defensive score, making six tackles and totaling 108 yards on five kickoff and punt returns. All told, Burmeister accumulated 455 all-purpose yards and had a hand in six touchdowns.

    Junior quarterback Josh Pettepier, meanwhile, completed 9-of-10 passes for 140 yards and two scores. Cole Madsen finished the night with 61 receiving yards, 48 rushing yards and three total touchdowns and Trevor Schulz added a 52-yard TD reception.

    Schulz led the defense with 15 total tackles (three sacks), followed by Madsen with 13 stops and Ethan Conroy and Cade Bruns with eight each. Brady Griffin recovered an East Mills fumble for a touchdown.