Peterson runs for 262 yards as NRHEG improves to 2-1
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
It was a sad, somber week in New Richland. The field at the high school — like much of the town — was decorated in blue ribbons in honor of fallen Police Chief Scott Eads, and a moment of silence was observed before Friday night’s football game.
None of it bothered the NRHEG Panthers.
Led by Perry Peterson’s 262 yards rushing and three touchdowns, they went out and played a near-flawless game while throttling visiting Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 30-22.
It was the second straight win for the Panthers after a week-one loss to Mayer Lutheran. An injury-plagued WEM squad fell to 1-2, a rare losing record for a Jon Bakken-coached crew.
“We had two very good weeks of practice and have taken some big steps forward,” said NRHEG coach Dan Stork. “We still had a couple miscues and need to stop turning the ball over, but we're moving in the right direction. We are very young and these guys are really picking it up.”
Peterson, a 5-11, 175-pound junior, left the Bucs tackling air much of the night, breaking several big plays with his smooth, shifty running style.
The Panthers did something they ususally have a tough time with against WEM: they contained the Bucs on the line of scrimmage, offensively and defensively.
“I thought our lines really controlled things tonight,” said Stork. “WEM could not get their run game going and that is what they are really built on.”
Jack Schultz, Alex Buckmeier, Chad Agrimson, Hunter Knutson and Jack Hogstad opened up nice holes and excuted assigments very well, according to Stork, and Peterson took full advantage.
“He was a complete workhorse once again,” said Stork. “He is a special back. It would be scary to see what he could do if we could rest him defensively but he is critical to our defense.”
Sam Prigge neeed to pass only five times as the Panthers outrushed WEM 296-80.
Sophomore Sawyer VanMaldeghem led the defense with 6.5 tackles, with Buckmeier netting six tackles and a sack. Peterson had 4.5 tackles.
The Panthers led 6-0 after one quarter on a 20-yard touchdown run by Peterson, who scored again in the second quarter while the Bucs scored twice to knot it at 14 at halftime. One of WEM’s TDs came on a fourth-and-23 play.
With Peterson running wild, the Panthers took control in the second half, assuming a 30-14 lead with about four minutes to play.
There was some late excitement as the Bucs pulled within eight and scored on another apparent touchdown pass, but the ball popped loose. The Panthers ran out the clock and celebrated the win.
NRHEG travels to Winthrop to play GFW this Friday.
NRHEG 30, WEM 22
WEM 0 14 0 8 — 22
NRHEG 6 8 8 8 — 30
First Quarter
NRHEG — Peterson 20 run (pass failed)
Second Quarter
WEM — Ranslow 23 pass from McBroom (Glende kick)
NRHEG — Peterson 1 run (Staloch pass from Peterson
WEM — Boran 10 run (Glende kick)
Third Quarter
NRHEG — Peterson 1 run (B.Agrimson pass from Prigge)
Fourth Quarter
NRHEG — Prigge 1 run (Peterson run)
WEM — Glende 8 pass from McBroom (Glende pass from McBroom
WEM NRHEG
First Downs 18 17
Rushing attempts 32 47
Yds. Rushing 80 296
Passing 16-38-0 3-5-0
Yds. Passing 200 34
Total plays 70 52
Total Yds. 280 330
Penalties 4-32 5-32
Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-1
Third down 5-17 2-9
Fourth down 3-8 0-1
Punts-Avg. 3-33.0 5-24.6
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing — NRHEG: Peterson 33-262; VanMaldeghem 2-20; Sletten 4-15; Bailey 1-7; Prigge 7 —8; WEM: Boran 10-32; McBroom 12-29; Glende 7-15; Voegele 3-4
Passing — NRHEG: Prigge 3-5-34; WEM: McGroom 16-37-200; Glende 0-1-0
Receiving — NRHEG: Staloch 2-31; Bailey 1-3; WEM: Glende 6-77; Ranslow 6-71; Boran 3-34; Voegele 1-18
Punt returns — NRHEG: Peterson 2-0; WEM: Glende 3-7; Ranslow 1-3; McBroom 1-0
Kickoff returns — NRHEG: Peterson 1-16; Prigge 1-9; Sletten 1-0; WEM: Glende 4-111; McBroom 1-0
NRHEG DEFENSE (tackles)
VanMaldeghem 6.5; Buckmeier 6, 1 sack; Peterson 4.5; Fischer 3; Bailey 3; Liebeg 3; B.Agrimson 3; C.Agrimson 2.5, 1 sack; Staloch 2; Sletten 2; Knutson 2; Schultz 1.5; Stork 1; Thompson 1; Prigge 1