Seniors Charlie Nissen, Porter Peterson and Nikolas Petsinger
By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
After losing in heartbreaking fashion earlier in the season to St. Clair Loyola, the NRHEG football team entered Wednesday night’s contest looking for redemption.
They didn’t find it.
Instead, the Panthers’ season came to an end, losing 13-7 in the opening round of section playoff action. The winning Cyclones played Blooming Prairie in the section semi finals Saturday, Oct. 30 and lost 47-19.
“We couldn’t overcome turnovers, and sadly the season is over,” NRHEG head coach Marc Kruger said. “We were just not able to finish.”
“I give our team a lot of credit for sticking it out and being in it,” Coach Kruger said. “Our offense struggled a bit at times, but our defense really stepped up and played well in big moments.”
Things looked good for the Panthers early, as they struck first in the opening quarter on a 9-yard pass from senior Tryone Wilson to senior Bo Budach.
From that point on it was a defensive battle. St. Clair scored two times, once on a 9-yard run in the second quarter and again on a 6-yard run late in the third quarter.
The Panthers had a chance at the end, driving down the field late, but couldn’t finish the drive.
A multitude of factors contributed to the Panther defeat: four turnovers and one of the worst games offensively. The Cyclones gained more than twice as many yards as the Panthers.
For the seniors who played their last game Wednesday, Coach Kruger had this to say: “My message to them was really just how grateful I am to have had them for 4 years. I would not trade that for anything. I have been very fortunate to get to coach this great group.”
For next year’s players, “The work starts now.”
With the loss the Panthers conclude their season 4-5 and graduate the following seniors: Bo Budach, Porter Peterson, Tyrone Wilson, Jack Olson, Nikolas Petsinger, Clay Stenzel, Matthew Olson, Ben Schoenrock, Ralph Roesler, Walker Thompson, Maverick Knutson, and Alex Dobberstein.