NRHEG football team falls to Medford, 21-6
CORRALLED — NRHEG’s Noah Krell brings down Medford running back Luke VanZuilen during last Wednesday’s regular-season finale at New Richland. Trailing the play is the Panthers’ Tyler Logan. NRHEG lost 21-6. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
NEW RICHLAND – A short-handed New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva football team saw a disappointing regular season end the same way it started, with a loss.
Medford scored 14 first-quarter points and used a stellar defense to protect the lead in posting a 21-6 victory over Dan Stork’s Panthers in the regular season finale at New Richland Friday.
Medford, which did not play NRHEG last season, tied Maple River for second place in the AA Gopher/Valley Conference (4-2). The Tigers are 5-3 overall.
NRHEG, which finished 1-3 on its home field, finished last in the conference, losing all six of its games. The Panthers fell to 1-7 for the season.
“Once again, our lack of depth killed us,” said Stork. “We have some kids that are battling and playing hard, but just get worn down.”
Medford got on the board first, scoring on a seven-yard run by Kade Cronin. Josh De La Rose kicked the extra point and it was quickly 7-0.NRHEG answered with its only scoring drive of the night. Nick Bartness capped the drive by blasting into the end zone from three yards out. However, the conversion was stopped, leaving Medford holding a one-point lead.
One of the few breakdowns of the night by the Panther defense came when Medford had the ball later in the opening quarter. Hunter Clayton exploded on an 81-uard scoring gallop, and De La Rosa booted the point after for a 14-6 Tiger advantage after one quarter.
The two teams battled through a scoreless second quarter, leaving the Panthers facing the eight-point deficit to start the second half.
Clayton reached pay dirt for the second time in the third quarter, blasting across from one-yard out. De La Rosa again split the uprights for a 21-6 Medford advantage.
Medford’s blitzing defense kept the NRHEG offense at a virtual standstill most of the final half.
“Medford’s blitz made it tough for us tonight,” said Stork. “They put a ton of pressure on our offensive line which made it very difficult for us to buy enough time to throw the ball.”
NRHEG ran two more offensive plays than Medford, but the Tigers finished with a 292-169 margin in total yards. Medford gained 260 yards running the ball, compared to NRHEG’s 122.
Dillon Parpart was NRHEG’s top ground gainer, picking up 73 yards on 20 carries. Bartness chipped in with 34 yards in eight attempts.
Clayton had 145 rushing yards on 19 carries for Medford.
Casey Rosacker competed 3-11 passes for 47 yards. Bartness caught two of the three Panther completions.
Medford’s Kronin managed 3-10 passes for 32 yards. He was intercepted once.
Parpart was a beast on defense, making 15 tackles. Twelve of his stops were solo hits.
Preston Peterson and John White made eight stops apiece, while Tyler Logan and Noah Krell were both in on six hits.
Peterson recovered a fumble and Rosacker had an interception for the Panthers.
NRHEG received the sixth seed in Section 3AA. The Panthers opened tournament play Tuesday at third-seeded Maple River, a team they lost to 21-6 during the year.
If NRHEG won that game, it will be playing at 3 p.m. Saturday, probably at second-seeded Jackson.
Medford 21, NRHEG 6
Medford 14 0 7 0 21
NRHEG 6 0 0 0 6
Scoring
1st Quarter: (M)-Cronin 7 yd. run (EP-De La Rosa kick).
(NR)-Bartness 3 yd. run (EP-no).
(M)-Clayton 81 yd. run (EP-De La Rosa kick).
2nd Quarter: No scoring.
3rd Quarter: (M)-Clayton 1 yd. run (EP-De La Rosa kick).
4th Quarter: No scoring.
Team Statistics
NR M
First Downs 11 14
Yds. rushing 122 260
Yds. passing 47 32
Passes 3-11 (0) 3-10 (1)
Total plays 57 55
Total yds. 169 292
Turnovers 0 2
Penalties/yds. 5/25 2/15
Individual Stats
NRHEG rushing: Parpart 20/73, Bartness 8/34 (1 TD), Logan 5/14, Tracy ½, Rosacker 12/-1.
NRHEG passing: Rosacker 3-11 (0 TDs, 0 intcp.) 47 yds.
NRHEG receiving: Bartness 2/13, Parpart 1/34.
NRHEG defense: Parpart-15 tackles, Peterson-8 (1 fumble), White-8, Logan-6, Krell-6, Bartness-5, Tollefson-2, Goette-2, Jewett-1, Arnold-1, Rosacker (1 interception).