With much of its backfield banged up, the Grand Meadow football team turned to a sophomore to carry the load in a 46-18 win over Lyle/Pacelli at Art Hass Stadium in Austin Friday.

The Superlarks (3-0 overall, 3-0 SEC) called upon sophomore back Caleb Leichtnam and he came through with five total touchdowns and 136 yards rushing on 11 carries. Leichtnam scored on GM’s first drive with a 27-yard catch from Brady Tart, he scored three rushing TDs in the second quarter to give GM a 38-6 lead at the half, and he returned a kick for a TD in the third quarter.

“They took it to us and they’re a good team,” L/P head coach Mark Buntje said. “We had no answer for Leichtnam and he was the difference in the game.”

After the Superlarks, who are ranked No. 9 in the state, scored on their first two possessions — L/P pulled to within 10 points on an 8-yard run from Nate Williamson, who ran for 157 yards and three scores for the Athletics (2-1 overall, 2-1 SEC).

But after the Superlarks scored three more times in the third quarter — including a buzzer beating TD to close the quarter after L/P turned it over on downs, GM was in command.

Leichtnam was a big difference maker for GM because senior running back Quentin Stejskal sat out with an injury he obtained in practice Wednesday, Killian Smith was a little battered up, and Gehling was battling migraines and a thumb injury.

“Quentin might of been able to play, but we decided to let him rest,” GM head coach Gary Sloan said. “Caleb’s a good player and you never know what to expect from him. We’re not really a grind it out team, we feel we’re pretty athletic and we look at ourselves as a big play team.”

L/P rushing: Nate Williamson, 22-for-161, 3 TD

L/P passing: Matt Buntje, 6-for-21, 42, 2 INT

L/P receiving: Brady Stier, 2-for-29

GM rushing: Caleb Leichtnam, 11-for-136, 2 TD; Michael Gehling, 12-for-73

GM passing: Brady Tart, 3-for-10, 88, TD, INT

GM receiving: Leichtnam, 2-for-63, TD

GM 16 22 8 0 — 46

LP 6 0 6 6 — 18

SCORING SUMMARY

First quarter

(GM) Caleb Leichtnam 27 pass from Brady Tart (Leichtnam run) 10:15 (8 plays, 77 yards)

(GM) Michael Gehling 20 run (Leichtnam run) 7:00 (2 plays, 22 yards)

(LP) Nate Williamson 8 run (pass failed) 1:09 (11 plays, 52 yards)

Second quarter

(GM) Leichtnam 35 run (run failed) 7:20 (5 plays, 79 yards)

(GM) Leichtnam 3 run (Killian Smith run) 1:55 (10 plays, 62 yards)

(GM) Leichtnam 1 run (Gehling run) 0:00 (11 plays, 43 yards)

Third quarter

(LP) Williamson 2 run (pass failed) 1:38 (1 play, 2 yards)

(GM) Leichtnam 81 yard kickoff return (Jon Jacobsen run) 1:24

Fourth quarter

(LP) Williamson 57 run (pass failed) 11:48 (3 plays, 64 yards)