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Created: 27 October 2023

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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.