By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
Talk about a turnaround.
After being blown out the first two weeks of the 2019 season, some people were concerned about the fortunes of the NRHEG football team.
Maybe they shouldn’t have worried.
The Panthers bounced back in a big way on their home field Friday, Sept. 13, soundly defeating St. James Area 55-6.
So how did the Panthers turn it around?
“We just needed time to be honest, I think,” said coach Marc Kruger. “Our players are starting to really understand what it takes to play varsity.”
By all accounts, they figured it out. The Panthers outgained the Saints 458-214, holding the visitors to 14 rushing yards on 24 attempts.
It started slowly, with the Panthers up 7-0 after one quarter on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Blake Ihrke to Kordell Schlaak.
The Panthers scored three times in the second period, on a 45-yard run by Ihrke, a 32-yard run by Lonnie Wilson and a 1-yard sneak by Ihrke.
NRHEG led 41-0 after three quarters.
Ihrke finished 11-for-20 for 138 yards with one interception. He was also the team’s leading rusher with 75 yards. Mason Ferber caught four passes for 46 yards, Wilson three for 32.
“This was the game we needed to prove to ourselves what we can do,” said Kruger.
The Panthers finished 1-2 in their non-district schedule and host Martin County West this week.
“This will be another good game,” said Kruger. “They lost to JCC with a similar score as us.”
SJ 0 0 0 6 - 6
NRHEG 7 20 14 14 - 55
First Quarter
NRHEG — Schlaak 19 pass from Ihrke (Schoenrock kick)
Second Quarter
NRHEG — Ihrke 45 run (Schoenrock kick)
NRHEG — Wilson 32 run (Schoenrock kick)
NRHEG — Ihrke 1 run (kick failed)
Third Quarter
NRHEG — Schlaak 8 run (Schoenrock kick
NRHEG — Olson 13 pass from Ihrke (Schoenrock kick)
Fourth Quarter
SJ — Anderson 2 run (run failed
NRHEG — Staloch 44 run (Schoenrock kick)
NRHEG — Peterson 12 run (Stenzel run)
SJ NRHEG
First downs 14 23
Total plays 58 51
Rushing 24-14 31-320
Passing 21-34-2 11-20-1
Passing Yds. 200 138
Total yards 214 458
Fumbles-lost 3-3 0-0
Penalties 2-15 8-70
Turnovers 2 2
Third down 3-14 4-8
Fourth down 2-4 2-3
Time of poss. 24:44 22:51
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing - NRHEG: Ihrke 7-75; Wilson 3-71; Schlaak 3-66; Staloch 7-59. Peterson 3-34; Beauvais 1-5; Ferber 1-4; Petsinger 1-4; Stenzel 1-2; SJ — L.Anderson 17-33; Kulseth 2-3; Carlson 1-0; Halvorson 4 —22;
Passing - NRHEG: Ihrke 10-18-1, 128; Peterson 1-2-0, 10; SJ: Halvorson 20-30-1, 197; Carlson 1-4-1, 3;
Receiving - NRHEG: Ferber 4-46; Wilson 3-32; Schlaak 1-19; Olson 1-16; Staloch 1-15; Petsinger 1-10; SJ: D.Anderson 4-70; Kulseth 7-49; Carlson 5-37; Jones 3-24; L.Anderson 1-17; Carreon Jr. 1-3.
Tackles - Schlaak 9, 1 forced fumble, 1 int.; Staloch 7; Ihrke 6; Stenzel 5; L.Wilson 4, 1 fumble recovery; Budach 3; Ferber 3; T. Wilson 3; Knutson 3; Howieson 2, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery; Hoelscher 2; Schoenrock 2; Nissen 1; Reyna 1; Peterson 1; Howe 1; Schultz 1; Roesler 1; Misgen 1; Thompson 1; Seltun 1; Dobberstein 1; Johannsen 1 fumble recovery