After a scoreless first quarter, Dillon Parpart rambled into the end zone from 13 yards out in the second quarter. The conversion was stopped, but the Panthers had a 6-0 lead.
Maple River answered by moving the length of the field for a score. Tyler Olson capped the drive from one-yard out and then booted the PAT to send the Eagles to the intermission with a 7-6 lead.
However, the Panthers were playing without running back Brad Claycomb, who rushed for over 250 yards on 51 carries last week, and were unable to generate much offense the second half.
Olson scored from a yard out in the third quarter, and added the extra point, giving Maple River a 14-6 advantage heading into the final quarter.
The Eagles applied the dagger in the final quarter when Michael Lewis found Casey Decker with a 48-yard scoring bomb. Olson was again perfect on the conversion.
“Maple River is a good team, and for the most part we hung with them,” said Stork. “Our lack of depth is really hurting us. Our guys were gassed.”
Both teams had 55 snaps in the game with MR holding a 268 to 153 margin in total yards. The Eagles had an 87 to 78 advantage on the ground and a 181-75 margin through the air.
The Panthers threw five interceptions in the game, while Maple River coughed up a couple of fumbles.
Nick Bartness led the NRHEG ground game with 41 yards on eight carries. Parpart added 36 yards on 12 attempts.
Aaron Trio led the Eagles with 60 yards on 24 carries.
Casey Rosacker completed 5-15 passes for 60 yards, but was intercepted five times.
Preston Peterson, Spencer Tollefson and Parpart had two receptions apiece for the Panthers.
Lewis completed 14 of 19 for 181 yards and a score for Maple River.
Decker caught six passes for 135 yards.
Parpart and Noah Krell had big games for the NRHEG defense. Parpart led the team with 15 tackles. Krell was in on 14 stops, recovered a fumble and had one sack.
Bartness was in on 8 tackles, one more than Sam Jewett.
Tyler Logan and Keith Maxon had five hits apiece.
NRHEG will close the regular season with a Wednesday game at home against Medford. The tigers are 4-3 after a 10-7, non-conference win over Adrian Friday.
Section 3AA quarterfinal play will begin Tuesday. As of now, the Panthers look like they will travel to second-seeded Jackson County to open the playoffs.
Maple R. 21, NRHEG 6
MR 0 7 7 7 21
NRHEG 0 6 0 0 6
Scoring
1ST Quarter: No scoring.
2nd Quarter: (NR)-Parpart 13 yd. run (EP-no).
(MR)-Olson 1 yd. run (EP-Olson kick).
3rd Quarter: (MR)-Olson 1 yd. run (EP-Olson kick).
4th Quarter: (MR)-Decker 48 yd. pass from Lewis (EP-Olson kick).
Team Statistics
NR MR
1st downs 9 11
Yds. rushing 78 87
Yds. passing 75 181
Passes 7-23 (5) 14-19 (0)
Total yds. 55/153 55/268
Turnovers 5 2
Penalties/yds. 2/10 2/20
Individual Stats
NRHEG Rushing: Bartness 8/41, Parpart 12/36 (1 TD), Rosacker 3/11, Peterson 1/-3, Tracy 9/-7.
NRHEG Passing: Rosacker 5-15 (0 TD, 5 intcp.) 60 yds. Tracy 2-8 (0 TD, 0 intcp.) 15 yds.
NRHEG Receiving: Peterson 2/32, Tollefson 2/25, Parpart 2/12, Bartness 1/6.
NRHEG Defense: Parpart-15 tackles, Krell-14 (1 fumble, 1 sack), Bartness-8, Jewett-7 (1 sack), Logan-5, Maxon-5, Tollefson-4 (1 fumble), Peterson-2, Rosacker-2, Goette-1, Field-1, White-1.
NEXT: Tuesday – Sect. 3AA QF, NRHEG at TBD, 7 p.m.
