For a while, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva football coach John Schultz was downright concerned.

Wednesday, October 27, 1999

For a while, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva football coach John Schultz was downright concerned.

As it has before, the defense put his fears to rest.

The Panthers shut down visiting Kenyon-Wanamingo until the offense could sustain some drives and hit some big plays as NRHEG rolled to a 33-7 victory in a Class 2A, Section 2 game at New Richland Tuesday night.

&uot;Mistakes and big plays worked against us in the first half,&uot; said Schultz, whose second-seeded Panthers improved to 8-1. &uot;We knew we could move the ball and we finally put things together in the second half. Our defense was consistent, keeping us in the game until the offense arrived.&uot;

The Knights arrived in the end zone first, connecting on a 51-yard hook-and-ladder pass in the first quarter.

The Panthers answered with an 11-play, 62-yard drive in the second, capped by Nick Budach’s 4-yard touchdown run, and NRHEG trailed 7-6 at halftime.

The second half – especially the third quarter – was all Panthers.

On their opening drive, the Panthers went 63 yards in eight plays with Nathan Wayne scoring on a 1-yard run.

On their next possession, the Panthers covered 62 yards in eight plays as Budach went the final 28. Joe Moon kicked the PAT for a 19-7 lead.

Wayne scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth, finishing a four-play 32-yard drive. Jens Wyrum added a 37-yard touchdown run to end a four-play, 97-yard drive.

The Panthers rushed for a season-high 408 yards while outgaining the Knights 439-224, with 20 first downs to the visitors’ six.

Budach finished with 151 yards on 22 carries, Wayne 125 on 10. Tony Schlaak was 2-for-10 passing for 31 yards and two interceptions; he ran the ball 10 times for 63 yards.

Moon, David Root and John Rathai led the defense with seven tackles apiece. Nathan Schlaak had six tackles.

The Panthers will face Hayfield or Blooming Prairie in a semifinal game Saturday at 2 p.m. at New Richland.