The rematch with the LeSueur-Henderson Giants didn't turn out to be much of a match for the NRHEG High School football team.

It was all Panthers.

The Panthers, who beat the Giants 28-12 in the regular season, turned up the intensity a notch and took down the Giants 49-0 in a Section 2AA semifinal at New Richland Saturday, Oct. 27.

"What a great game all around," said first-year NRHEG head coach Mark Kruger, whose team improved its record to 8-2. "The last three games we have hit a stride as a team and I feel we can easily play with anyone."

They get their chance Friday at 7 p.m. at JWP High School, when the second-seeded Panthers play No. 1 seed WEM (9-1), which defeated No. 4 seed St. Clair/Mankato Loyola in the semifinals.

Anyone hoping for a close game with LSH Saturday left the stadium disappointed.

After a rather slow start that saw them leading 7-0 after one quarter, the Panthers poured it on the second and third, scoring 21 points in both periods, and reserves played in the fourth.

 

Kordell Schlaak rushed for 136 yards and Sawyer VanMaldeghem totaled 112, both scoring two touchdowns, and quarterback Blake Ihrke was 7-for-11 passing for 110 yards and two touchdowns, both to Brady Agrimson.

 

"We really did it on the ground this week," said Kruger. "Blake had a good game keeping the ball where it needed to be, even with two picks."

 

And the defense came through again, limiting the Giants to 65 yards rushing and knocking one of their best players out of the game. Tyler Jacobson finished with seven tackles, an interception and a sack. Hunter Knutson also had seven stops. Alex Buckmeier totaled six tackles and two sacks, Quinten Arndt six tackles, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery, and Andrew Reich six tackles.

 

"Our defense played amazing," said Kruger. "What we can do as a defense is very scary I would say. I would point out the whole defense as standouts today. The defensive line and Reich at linebacker played their best game of the season."

 

On a beautiful day for football, with the temperature around 60, the Panthers took the opening kickoff and punted after three plays. They stopped the Giants on fourth down, but three plays later Ihrke threw his first interception.

 

Then, on second down, VanMaldeghem tipped a pass, controlled it and strolled about 15 yards for a touchdown. Ben Schoenrock's PAT kick made it 7-0.

 

In the second quarter, Schlaak broke loose on a 52-yard scoring run, VanMaldeghem scored on a 55-yard run and Agrimson caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Ihrke, making it 28-0 at halftime.

If the Giants were h

oping to get back in it in the third quarter, those hopes were dashed early. The Panthers blocked a pass on their first play and Jacobson intercepted. Three plays later VanMaldeghem scored from 5 yards out.

 

Schlaak scored on a 10-yard run and Agrimson caught a 30-yard pass from Ihrke to complete the Panther points.

 

The Panthers outgained the Giants 385-237 in total yards as NRHEG ran for 275 yards.

 

The meeting with WEM Friday will be the second this season for the Panthers, who lost their homecoming game 48-8 to the Bucs on Sept. 28. But the Panthers fumbled early and often in that game, something they hope won't happen this Friday.