NRHEG wins 21-12, improves to 1-1
ELUSIVE — The Panthers’ Dillon Parpart (30) breaks loose on the outside as WEM’s Patrick Parsons (10) tries to stop him in Friday’s game in New Richland. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
NEW RICHLAND – The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva football team showed why you play the game. Despite both teams losing their opening games, the Panthers were a big underdog against Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.
Coach Dan Stork’s Panthers defeated the Buccaneers for the first time since 2007, capturing a 21-12 win at New Richland Friday.
“We were able to run the ball and we didn’t make many mistakes,” said Stork. “We were able to control the ball on the ground and really shut them off on third down plays.”
It was the opening game in Gopher/Valley AA Conference play, leaving NRHEG tied for the top with Medford and Maple River. The Panthers evened their overall record at 1-1.
WEM suffered its second straight loss to start the season, something very unusual in Buccaneer country.NRHEG put together a nice drive in the opening quarter, capped by Dillon Parpart’s one-yard run. The extra point failed, leaving the Panthers with a 6-0 lead.
NRHEG upped its advantage to 14-0 at halftime. Parpart exploded through the line and rambled 48 yards to pay dirt. Trevor Tracy found Nick Bartness for the two-point conversion.
“Our offensive line did a nice job allowing us to run the ball,” said Stork. “Defensively, we were able to make stops when we had to.
It became a 21-0 Panther margin in the third quarter. Parpart scored his third touchdown of the game, romping in from 13 yards out. Tracy booted the extra point for a three TD advantage.
WEM quarterback Ben Boran got free on a 47 yard scoring run late in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 21-6 entering the final quarter.
WEM scored the only points of the final quarter but it was not enough. Patrick Parsons set up the touchdown with a long run, and then did the honors from three yards out.
“Any time you can defeat a solid program like WEM, it has to help your confidence,” said Stork. “We took care of the ball and were able to control things with our ground game, unlike last week.”
“We are struggling offensively right now,” said WEM coach Jon Bakken. “We will just continue to work and get better so we are able to make a run at the end of the year.”
NRHEG had the best of the statistics, leading in first downs 14-9, rushing yards 230-196, passing 59-13 and total yards 289-209.
NRHEG ran 67 plays to WEMs’ 47. Neither team had a turnover and both were penalized five times.
The Bucs were 0-13 on third and fourth down plays, while NRHEG converted 6-18 opportunities.
Parpart paced the Panther attack, carrying 25 times for 169 yards. Bartness added 15 carries for 58 yards.
Boran had a big game for WEM, running 17 times for 122 yards. Parsons chipped in with 33 rushing yards.
Tracy completed 4-13 passes for the Panthers, two of them to Bartness.
Boran hit 3-15 passes for the Bucs, two to Landon Harmon.
Spencer Tollefson paced the NRHEG defense with nine tackles, three of them solo stops.
Bartness made eight hits for the Panthers, Parpart was in on seven hits and Noah Krell made six tackles. Bartness made seven solo stops.
WEM will tangle with GFW at home Friday.
The Panthers travel to undefeated Medford. The Tigers have defeated USC 22-7 and LCWM 31-8.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
NRHEG 21, WEM 12
WEM 0 0 6 6 12
NRHEG 6 8 7 0 21
Scoring
1st Quarter: (NR) – Parpart 1 yd. run (EP-no).
2nd Quarter: (NR) – Parpart 48 yd. run (EP-Bartness pass from Tracy).
3rd Quarter: (NR) – Parpart 13 yd. run (EP-Tracy kick).
(WEM) – Ben Boran 47 yd. run (EP-no).
4th Quarter: (WEM) – Parsons 3 yd. run (EP-no).
Team Statistics
NR WEM
1st Downs 14 9
Yds. Rushing 230 196
Yds. Passing 59 13
Passes 4-13 (0) 3-15 (0)
Total; yds. 47/209 67/289
Turnovers 0 0
Penalties/yds. 5/60 5/45
Individual Stats
NRHEG Rushing: Parpart 25/169 (3 TDs), Bartness 15/58, Logan 1/5, Tracy 9/4, Tollefson 1/-3, Peterson 1/-6.
WEM Rushing: Ben Boran 17/122 (1 TD), Parson 6/33 (1 TD), Brody Boran 6/15, Wolter 5/11.
NRHEG Passing: Tracy 3-14 (0 TDs, 0 intcp.), 59 yds.
WEM Passing: Ben Boran 3-15 (0 TDs, 0 intcp.), 13 yds.
NRHEG Receiving: Bartness 2/17, Peterson 1/38, Parpart 1/4.
WEM Receiving: Harmon 2/16, Brody Boran 1/-3.
NRHEG Defense: Tollefson – 9 tackles, Bartness – 8, Parpart – 7, Krell – 6, Stenzel – 3, Logan – 2, Hoppe – 2, Merritt – 2, Weller – 2, Peterson – 1, Sletten – 1, Krause – 1.
NEXT: Friday – NRHEG at Medford, 7 p.m.