Clay Stenzel and Jack Olson make the tackle.
For the second week in a row, the Panthers were victims of a one-point defeat resulting from turnovers, lack of possession, and another failed late game two-point attempt.
The NRHEG football team lost its homecoming game in heartbreaking fashion Saturday night, Oct. 2, falling to Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop 22-21.
“As a team we did a lot of good things,” NRHEG Head Coach Marc Kruegar said. “For the second week in a row we had a difficult one point loss.”
The Panthers got on the board first, scoring via safety in the first quarter. On the ensuing possession, the Junior running back Andrew Phillips broke away for a 30-yard touchdown run for his first of two scores on the day.
Midway through the second quarter, momentum began to shift. GFW quarterback Brody Hentges connected with Nick TenEyck for a 31-yard score. A failed point after attempt kept the Panthers ahead until the last play of the half. An 11-yard touchdown pass from Hentges to Ashton Buboltz followed by a successful two-point try put the Thunderbirds up 14-8.
A scoreless third quarter preceded an event filled fourth quarter. The Thunderbirds struck first on a 7-yard run, putting a damper on the Panther’s hopes for a homecoming victory.
But the home squad wasn’t ready to give up. Fans who left early missed an exciting, but ultimately painful conclusion. Down 22-8, the Panthers went to work. With under four minutes on the clock, Senior Porter Peterson ran it in from 11-yards out. A successful point after cut the deficit to seven.
With just under two minutes to play, Phillips continued his onslaught, scoring on a 15-yard scamper. As they tried and failed last week to convert a late fourth quarter two-point try, the Panthers were again stopped short as Phillips and the offense were unable to convert.
“Andrew Phillips had a great game running the ball,” Coach Kruegar said. “We just came up short on a 2-point conversion at the end of the game.”
Phillips had arguably his best game of the season, tallying 126 yards while averaging more than 7-yards per carry.
“I am really proud of the team for battling back when we were down 22-8, ”Coach Kruegar said.
The defense for the Panthers was stingy, forcing two turnovers, one on the ground and another in the air. “The defense played really well,” Coach Kruegar explained. “It was just a few plays that hurt us.”
Once again turnovers and lack of possessions played an important role. The Panthers were better this week, but nonetheless, they lost two fumbles and threw one interception. Worth noting, junior Charlie Nissen got his first career start at quarterback in place of injured senior Porter Peterson, who played defense despite a fractured left thumb. Nissen completed three passes for 49-yards.
“GFW is a very good team and did a great job controlling the game and the clock,” Coach Kruegar stated. “We found possession hard to come by.”
Defensively the Panthers were led in tackles by Senior Clay Stenzel with 12 and Jack Olson with 7. Also registering tackles were: Ralph Roesler, 6.5; Makota Misgen, 5.5; Walker Thompson, 5; Bo Budach, 5; Alex Dobberstein, 4; Porter Peterson, 3.5; Phillips, 3; Maverick Knutson, 3; Ethan Thompson, 1; Nikolas Petsinger, 1; Lucas Hanna, 1.
Up next the Panthers travel to play Medford, Friday, Oct. 8.