By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
Football statistical gurus will tell you that any time you hold a team to 10 yards rushing and have a plus-three turnover ratio, you should win.
Sometimes, though, statistics can be deceiving.
The NRHEG Panthers controlled the game in many facets but fell short 21-20 in overtime in a Section 3AA quarterfinal at Maple River Tuesday, Oct. 21.
The loss ended the season for the seventh-seeded Panthers, who finished 3-6. The No. 2 seeded Eagles improved to 8-1.
The game was tied most of the night, with Trevor Tracy putting the Panthers on the board in the first quarter on a 2-yard run. Maple River answered in the second on a 3-yard pass, and the PAT kick left it 7-6 Eagles at the half.Nick Bartness broke loose for a 23-yard touchdown run in the third period and Jason Jongbloedt ran for the conversion, making it 14-7 NRHEG. Again the Eagles responded, knotting it on an 8-yard run.
It all came down to one play in overtime.
After the Eagles scored on a 1-yard run and kicked the PAT, the Panthers scored on an 11-yard pass from Tracy to Spencer Tollefson. The pair again connected on the PAT, but Tollefson was stopped about an inch short of the goal line.
“Overall, our kids played very well,” said NRHEG coach Dan Stork. “Spencer Tollefson had a huge night on both sides of the ball, as did Trevor Tracy. The seniors on this team were tremendous leaders all season and again led the way tonight.”
The Panthers will graduate seniors Tollefson, Tracy, Bartness, Jet Wayne, Zach Stenzel, Matt Jensen, Alex Merritt, Hudson Mrotz, Keith Maxon and Kyle Holz.
MAPLE RIVER 21, NRHEG 20, OT
NRHEG 6 0 8 0 6 20
MR 0 7 7 0 7 21
Scoring
1st Quarter
NRHEG — Tracy 2 run (Pass failed)
2nd Quarter
MR — Albrecht 3 pass from Sohre (Kick successful)
3rd Quarter
NRHEG — Bartness 23 run (Jongbloedt run)
MR — Greenfield 8 run (Kick successful)
4th Quarter
No scoring
Overtime
MR — Sohre 1 run (Kick successful)
NRHEG — Tollefson 11 pass from Tracy (Pass failed)
Team Statistics
NRHEG MR
First downs 11 10
Yds. Rushing 126 10
Yds. Passing 114 184
Passes 7-11-0 17-34-2
Total plays 56 56
Total yds. 240 194
Turnovers 1 4
Penalties 3-32 4-25
Individual Stats
NRHEG rushing: Hoppe 23-48; Bartness 4-30; Tollefson 6-23; Jongbloedt 7-19; Tracy 5-6
MR rushing: Albrecht 5-5; Greenfield 9-4; Decker 5-4; Sohre 3 —3
NRHEG passing: Tracy 7-11-0, 114
MR passing: Sohre 17-34-2, 184
NRHEG receiving: Tollefson 6-95; Pa.Peterson 1-19
MR receiving: Albrecht 10-89; Greenfield 3-30; Lewis 1-28; Sindelir 1-25; Decker 1-8; Breiter 1-4
NRHEG defense: Jongbloedt 6.5 tackles; Tollefson 6, 1 interception; Erickson 3; Sletten 3; Bartness 2.5; Pa.Peterson 2.5; Jensen 2; Hoppe 1.5; Stenzel 1; Wayne 1; Schultz 1; Tracy 1 interception