Parpart runs for 261 yards as NRHEG knocks off Medford
FOLLOW THOSE BLOCKS – The Panthers’ Dillon Parpart (30) dives ahead for extra yards during the Panthers’ 26-7 victory at Medford last Friday. Note Nick Bartness (32) flattening a Medford defender. Parpart ran the ball 42 times for 261 yards as NRHEG improved its record to 2-1. (Star Eagle photos by Chris Schlaak)
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
MEDFORD – The surprising New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva football team pulled its second straight upset win Friday.
After shocking Waterville-Elysian-Morristown a week ago, the Panthers hit the road and stunned eighth-ranked Medford 26-7.
“We are excited to be 2-1, but we still have a lot of work to do,” said NRHEG coach Dan Stork. “It’s really fun to see this team improve each week.”
The Panthers remained in a first-place tie with Maple River in the Gopher/Valley AA Conference at 2-0. NRHEG raised its overall mark to 2-1.
Medford lost for the first time in three games and fell to 1-1 in the conference.NRHEG scored the first two times it had its hands on the football. Medford was stopped on downs with its first possession and lost a fumble on the second possession.
After stopping the Tigers, NRHEG went 75 yards in just five plays. Dillon Parpart blasted over from one yard out. Trevor Tracy booted the extra point.
Nick Bartness pounced on a Medford fumble the next time the Tigers had the ball.
The Panthers then marched 69 yards in six plays, with Parpart capping the drive from three yards out.
Tracy again nailed the conversion, leaving NRHEG with a 14-0 lead after one quarter.
The Panthers marched 71 yards in 13 plays in the second quarter, giving them a 20-0 advantage at halftime. Tracy snuck across from one yard out, but missed the extra point.
Neither team generated much offense in the third quarter.
Medford had the ball twice, and was stopped on downs and lost a fumble. NRHEG threw an interception and had to punt on its two possessions.
The Tigers cut the NRHEG margin to 20-7 in the final quarter when A.J. Chappuis hurled a 54-yard scoring pass to Luke VanZuilen capping a two-play drive. Josh DeLaRosa booted the extra point.
NRHEG sealed the win by putting together a 12-play, 64-yard drive.
Parpart bulled across from four yards out to score his third TD of the night.
“Dillon ran extremely hard tonight as his numbers would indicate,” said Stork.
NRHEG ran 58 plays and racked up 317 yards. The Panthers ran for 278 yards and added 54 through the air.
Medford was held to 40 plays and 188 yards. The Tigers passed for 132, but could gain only 56 yards on the ground.
“Our offensive and defensive lines played outstanding tonight,” said Stork. “Noah Krell, Nick Goette, Zeke Erickson, Keith Maxon, Jon Weller, Spencer Tollefson and Matt Jensen really controlled the line of scrimmage.”
Parpart, who ran for 169 yards against WEM a week ago, lugged the ball 42 times for 261 yards, averaging over six yards per carry.
Bartness added 13 yards on seven attempts.
Isias Ramirez paced the Medford ground game with 29 yards.
Tracy went to the air just four times, completing one to Preston Peterson for 39 yards. He threw two interceptions.
Chappuis connected on three of nine throws for 113 yards for Medford. VanZuilen had two receptions for the Tigers.
Tollefson, Parpart and Krell led the NRHEG defense with five tackles apiece. Parpart had three solo stops.
The Panthers converted nine of 13 third-down plays. Medford was four of nine on third down and zero for three on fourth down.
The Panthers return home Friday, entertaining the Lester Prairie Bulldogs, who are 1-2. LP lost to Blooming Prairie Friday 30-15.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
NRHEG 26, Medford 7
NRHEG 14 6 0 6 26
Medford 0 0 0 7 7
Scoring
1st Quarter: (NR)-Parpart 1 yd. run (EP-Tracy kick).
(NR)-Parpart 3 yd. run (EP-Tracy kick).
2nd Quarter: (NR)-Tracy 1 yd. run (EP-no).
3rd Quarter: No scoring.
4th Quarter: (M)-VanZuilen 54 yd. pass from Chappuis. (EP-De La Rosa kick).
(NR)-Parpart 4 yd. run (EP-no).
Team Statistics
NR M
First downs 16 8
Yds. Rushing 278 56
Yds. Passing 39 132
Passes 1-4 (2) 4-11 (0)
Total Yds. 58/317 40/188
Turnovers 2 2
Penalties/yds. 2/12 7/47
Individual Stats
NRHEG Rushing: Parpart 42/261 (3 TDs), Bartness 7/13, Tracy 5/4 (1 TD).
Medford Rushing: Ramirez 8/29, Neuhaus 7/23, Chappuis 11/3, VanZuilen 2/2, Peterson 1/-1.
NRHEG passing: Tracy 1-4 (0 TDs, 2 intcp.), 39 yds.
Medford passing: Chappuis 3-9 (1 TD, 0 intcp.), 113 yds.; Peterson 1-1 (0 TDs, 0 intcp), 19 yds.; De La Rosa 0-1 (0 TDs, 0 intcp.), 0 yds.
NRHEG receiving: Peterson 1/39.
Medford receiving: VanZuilen 2/75 (1 TD), Ramirez 1/38, Madsen 1/19.
NRHEG defense: Parpart – 5 tackles, Krell – 5, Tollefson – 5, Krause – 4, Bartness – 3 (1 fumble), Tracy – 3, Peterson – 3, Hoppe – 3, Weller – 3, Logan - 2
NEXT: Friday – Lester Prairie at NRHEG, 7 p.m.