FINAL TIME - Seniors Alex Dobberstein and Walker Thompson embrace during their final home game.
Star Eagle photos by Chris Schlaak
By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
On a cold and rainy Wednesday night, the NRHEG Panther football team ended its regular season with an exclamation point, defeating Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 42-0 to earn the fifth seed in section playoff rankings and a rematch with St. Clair Tuesday, Oct. 26, to open the playoffs. The winner plays Saturday at 7 p.m.
Wednesday’s game paired two rival schools which had not shared a field together since 2018. Fans may remember the walloping the Panthers gave the Buccaneers in the playoffs that year, 46-6, to earn a state playoff appearance. But what they might not know is that Wednesday’s win was the first regular season win against the rival school since 2016.
The scoring started early for the Panthers when, in the first quarter, Sawyer Prigge got behind the WEM defense to catch a Tryone Wilson pass for a 44-yard score. It was the first of only two passes completed in the entire game as rain played a big part in the game.
Both two teams combined for six fumbles, with four happening in the first quarter alone.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Buccaneers fumbled the Ben Schoenrock kick, which was scooped up by Andrew Phillips and returned 20-yards the other way for a Panther touchdown.
In the second quarter, one NRHEG possession ended with an interception, followed by a Buccaneer fumble, recovered by WEM, all on the same play. When the Buccaneer offense then came on the field, the weather again played a key role as the slippery conditions caused another fumble, recovered by the Panthers.
“Special teams were pivotal in the rain,” NRHEG head coach Marc Krugar said. “They really stepped up.”
With good field position following the fumble and an offensive line providing ample time to pass, Junior Quarterback Charlie Nissen turned the ball upfield and scampered 14 yards for another score.
Last week the Panthers tried something new at quarterback, a rotation between Wilson and Nissen. Coach Krugar said they alternated quarterbacks on a play by play basis against Blooming Prairie and Wednesday night switched to alternating possessions.
“Really, they [Nissen and Wilson] give us different things when they are in there,” Coach Krugar said. “It helps to keep them both fresh as they also both play on defense.”
The next Buc’s drive again ended in folly as Panther Middle Linebacker Ralph Roesler intercepted WEM quarterback Preston Grams and returned it for a touchdown. A fourth successful point after kick by Schoenrock cemented the Panther lead going into halftime at 28-0.
During the second half, it was much the same story. The Panther defense continued its shutout and the Panthers continued to score. With a little over four minutes left in the third quarter, Wilson scrambled for a 17-yard score.
On the next possession for the Panthers, the quarterback rotation saw Nissen leading the Panther offense down the field. Nissen capped the scoring drive with a 3-yard strike to Jack Olson to extend the Panther lead to 42-0. It was only the second completed pass of the game by either squad.
Defensively the Panthers forced six turnovers in the game, four via fumbles, and two in the air during Wednesday night’s shutout and were led in tackles by Clay Stenzel with five.
“We’re very happy with how our defense played, having the shutout,” Coach Kruger said. “We have a few things we need to fix heading into section playoffs, but this was a great game for us to end on. A win like this going into the postseason really shows how good we can be.”
Wearing their home jerseys for the last time, these Panther seniors were recognized prior to the game: Bo Budach, Porter Peterson, Tyrone Wilson, Jack Olson, Nikolas Petsinger, Clay Stenzel, Mathew Olson, Ben Schoenrock, Ralph Roesler, Walker Thompson, Maverick Knutson, and Alex Dobberstein.
“This is a great group,” coach Kruger said. “I’ve had them all for four years now and could not be more proud of them.”
Going forward the Panthers travel to play St. Clair Loyola in the opening round of section playoffs. The rematch will most certainly be exciting as the Panthers narrowly were defeated following a failed two point conversion attempt late in the fourth quarter mere weeks ago.
“Looking back, there were a lot of mistakes on our end,” Coach Kruger explained. “We are excited to see them again and we feel like this is a game we can win.”