NRHEG Star Eagle

137 Years Serving the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Area
Newspaper of Record for NRHEG School District
Newspaper of Record for Waseca County, MN
PO Box 248 • New Richland, MN 56072

507-463-8112
email: steagle@hickorytech.net
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NRHEG wins first-ever section football crown

 

By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher

Some folks may have been concerned about the NRHEG High School football team's rematch with arch rival Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.

After all, the last time the teams met, it was the Panthers' homecoming and they fumbled early and often, fell behind big and were never in it in a 48-6 setback.

The second time around couldn't have been more different. But the Panthers didn't need turnovers. They did it the old-fashioned way, beating the Bucs at the line of scrimmage - though they did have some turnovers.

The Panthers played without question their best game of the season so far while annihilating WEM 46-6 for the Section 2AA championship at Janesville Friday, Nov. 2.

"First off, I just want to say how proud I am of these boys, and how grateful I am to be their coach," said first-year NRHEG head coach Marc Kruger. "I told them before the game how much I love them and how happy I am to be a Panther."

The Panthers, who improved their record to 9-2, will face Section 1AA champion Caldedonia Friday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. at Burnsville High School. The winner of that game plays in the state semifinals against Pillager or Paynesville Area Thursday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The Class AA state championship game is Friday, Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. at U.S. Bank Stadium. WEM finished with a 9-2 record, having only lost to the Panthers and in the season opener to a Redwood Valley team that was still undefeated as of last Friday.

By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher

The rematch with the LeSueur-Henderson Giants didn't turn out to be much of a match for the NRHEG High School football team.

It was all Panthers.

The Panthers, who beat the Giants 28-12 in the regular season, turned up the intensity a notch and took down the Giants 49-0 in a Section 2AA semifinal at New Richland Saturday, Oct. 27.

"What a great game all around," said first-year NRHEG head coach Mark Kruger, whose team improved its record to 8-2. "The last three games we have hit a stride as a team and I feel we can easily play with anyone."

They get their chance Friday at 7 p.m. at JWP High School, when the second-seeded Panthers play No. 1 seed WEM (9-1), which defeated No. 4 seed St. Clair/Mankato Loyola in the semifinals.

Anyone hoping for a close game with LSH Saturday left the stadium disappointed.

The NRHEG High School volleyball team saw its season end with a 3-1 loss at Mountain-Lake Area Thursday, Oct. 25. Game scores were 25-20, 20-25, 26-24, 25-20.
"It's bittersweet for the season to end," said Panthers coach Onika Peterson. "I am extremely proud to have coached this great group of girls. Their fight and big hearts came second to none. Tonight the girls battled, but unfortunately we came up short."
The Panthers rebounded strong after dropping the first game, according to Peterson, and in game three they took a 7-1 lead but let the home team back in it. They trailed most of the way in game four, and were down by 10 at one point, before rallying to make it close.