NRHEG football team wins fourth straight, earning home playoff game
By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
One of the most exciting halves of football Panther fans have seen in a long time took place Wednesday, Oct. 18 in New Richland.
NRHEG scored all of its points in the second half and defeated United South Central 27-26.
“Both teams moved the ball well in the first half,” said NRHEG head coach Marc Kruger. “Both teams played well and made big plays to get stops. In the second half, we took out some plays I didn’t like and fixed others that really helped finish off drives on key third and fourth-down type plays.”
At halftime, the Rebels led 6-0. The game arguably came down to two key plays as both teams traded scoring drives in the second half.
Before those two plays, however, a false start due to “fireworks” almost cost the Panthers.
After a touchdown pass to Jackson Chrz, one of two on the night for Chrz, the Panthers led 20-12 with 11 minutes remaining in the game. With the extra point attempt kicked through the uprights, flags flew as the offensive line jumped at the same time as fireworks were shot into the air. Backed up, the next extra point attempt was blocked, keeping it a one-score game.
Three minutes later, the Rebels marched down the field on a drive consisting entirely of run plays. After a touchdown run of a couple yards, the two point conversion was successful.
A 58-yard scamper by junior Alden Dobberstein set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Jaylin Raab on the Panthers’ next possession. The extra point made it 27-20.
“Alden is such a good quarterback when he has time,” Kruger said after the game. “He can read so well and put the ball in the right spot.”
On the next possession Aidan Schlaak made one of two game-saving and clinching plays.
A 40-yard run from the Rebel quarterback set up a first and goal for USC. Two plays later they punched it in with 3:41 remaining in the contest. On one of the few pass plays of the night for the Rebels, a wide open receiver was standing in the back of the end zone. On a diving play, the ball was tipped away just in time, by none other than Schlaak.
With a minute remaining in the game, with the Rebels trying to drive down the field, Schlaak again put the game on ice when he intercepted the USC quarterback at midfield.
“We talked a lot before the game, especially with coaches voting on seeds now,” coach Kruger said. “I told them (the players) I can't guarantee you another home game even if we win, but I can guarantee you, go out, do the best we can and play tonight on our home field.
“Those first four games we went 0-4 against some tough teams. We didn't play our best but we knew this whole time we knew we had a really good team and we were kind of waiting for things to get put together and we saw it at times, so I’m just really happy to finish out 4-0. So we're just telling ourselves we're 4-0 right now and doing the things we need to do.”
With playoff voting done the following day, the Panthers earned the No. 4 seed and the right to host Blue Earth at home Tuesday, Oct. 17. The winner of that game travels to Maple River on Saturday to play at 2 p.m.
“2018 was the last home playoff game we had,” Kruger explained. “This is big. That was my first time. In my first year we hosted a home playoff game and haven't had one since. This would be great to have another game on this field, another time for the seniors to be on the field and this gives you a better chance to win. You don't have to do all the away stuff. Just get us that win and we get another week of football and go on from there.”
Kruger talked about numerous players, highlighting their performances.
Chrz caught four balls for 144 yards, two touchdowns, including a 57-yard reception and a two-point conversion pass.
“We’ve just kind of been waiting for those connections,” Kruger continued. “We've seen it. He's 6-6 and we didn't have him last year because he focused on basketball. So we’re really happy. We love it when those guys come back. I want everyone in football. Tell everyone in the paper, tell everyone, to go out for football. I need you all. It makes a difference. He's a guy who didn't play last year and he came in and he's a big reason we're winning right now. He's a big part of our offense. It's hard to guard him. He's fast, strong, and physical.”
Throughout the night, the offensive and defensive lines played well.
“Our line has been clicking both running the ball and giving us time to throw,” Kruger said. “We just got five guys that are working their tails off. The dog pound we call them. They’re just doing a great job.”
Regarding Schlaak and his excellent play, Kruger commented: “Aidan Schlaak broke his ankle in baseball last year and rehabbed all summer. He got cleared on the first day of practice for football and reaggravated it twice so far this season. But he’s just playing through pain and just now getting to the point where he's finally feeling healthy and it shows. He is one of the best corners around when he's fully healthy.”
Asked who else contributed a lot tonight, Kruger added.
“We relied on Sam Olson at wide receiver. He's just a bigger body so we relied on him more running the ball just because our other running backs are a little bit smaller, more speed type. We really wanted to pound the ball, so we used Sam a lot. He really stepped up and just our offensive line and defense line are doing a great job.”
Wednesday night, however, was not just about football. It was Senior Night, and Cancer Night.
“It's exciting to have games like this and this atmosphere back” Kruger said. “It's so much fun. Great fans, great night, tons of support. It was Pink Out night and we do Pink Out because it's easy to get pink gear, not specifically breast cancer. It's really cool. One of our coaches, Jeff Jiminez, coach JJ, his sister passed away this year from cancer. He’s had her sticker for her on his helmet all year for her, so I think it's a big game for him too. It's really emotional. I just can't thank the community enough for supporting us. It was our best year ever for Tackle Cancer.”
Kruger thanks 10,000 Custom Designs for supplying the T-shirts, and pink attire for the evening’s game.
NRHEG 27, United South Central 26
USC 6 0 6 14 — 26
NRHEG 0 0 7 20 — 27
First Quarter
USC — 7-yard run (two-point conversion failed)
Second Quarter
No Scoring
Third Quarter
NRHEG — Olson 4 pass from Dobberstein (Roesler kick)
Fourth Quarter
NRHEG — Chrz 57 pass from Dobberstein (Roesler kick)
NRHEG — Chrz 25 pass from Dobberstein (kick failed
USC —3-yard run (Martinez run)
NRHEG — Raab 2-yard run (Roesler kick)
USC — 1 run (two-point conversion failed)
USC NRHEG
First downs 11 13
Total plays 45 47
Rushing yards 146 261
Passing 1-2-0 6-11-0
Passing Yds. 25 153
Total yards 286 299
Third down 6-9 4-7
Fourth down 1-2 1-2
Turnovers 0 0
Penalties 10-47 3-17
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing – NRHEG: Dobberstein 9-109; Olson 4-14; Raab 8-12; Flatland 3-6; Cromwell 6-5; USC: Martinez 11-116; No. 35 13-51; Rest of Team 16-94
Passing – NRHEG: Dobberstein 6-11-0, 153; USC: Martinez 1-2-0, 25
Receiving — NRHEG: Chrz 4-144; Roesler 1-5; Olson 1-4; USC 1-25
Defense – NRHEG: Flatland 9 tackles, 1 tackle for loss; Bartlett 6 tackles, 1 tackle for loss; Olson 4 tackles; Roesler 4 tackles; Parpart 4 tackles; Ihrke 3 tackles; Chrz 2 tackles; Martens 2 tackles; Raab 1 tackle; Brouwers 1 tackls; Rest of Team 5 tackles