NEW RICHLAND &045; Both United South Central coach Brent Schimek and NRHEG coach Adam Barner figured something out early Friday night.

Conditions were not conducive for punting the football.

Schimek’s Rebels were more successful at adjusting.

United South Central blocked to punts – including one that went for a touchdown – and spoiled the Panthers’ homecoming 35-7 at New Richland Friday night.

“The field was so muddy we didn’t even punt in the second half, we just went for it on fourth down every time,” said Schimek. “It was muddy getting the snap off, there was no way you could get a return anyway, so we just figured we might as well send everybody after the punter. And they did the same thing.”

The Rebels, rated No. 4 in last week’s Associated Press poll, improved to 6-0 while the Panthers fell to 1-5.

Special teams wasn’t the only strength for USC Friday. The defense also came up big, holding the Panthers to 19 total yards.

The first blocked punt was midway through the first quarter, by Dan Voigt, and the Rebels turned it into a 3-yard touchdown run by Trevor Haugh.

The next block wound up in the end zone, where the Rebels’ Jason Garvick recovered for a touchdown.

The Rebels added a 25-yard touchdown run by Ben Wetzell and a 52-yard scoring pass from Wetzell to Nate Pederson for a 28-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Wetzell added a 43-yard touchdown run in the second period.

It remained 35-0 until 3:04 left, when the Panthers’ Jason Lennox scored on a 9-yard run.

Wetzell finished with 95 yards on three carries and completed two of five passes for 57 yards as the Rebels totaled an even 200 yards of offense.

Defensive leaders for USC were Steven Wood with five tackles and a sack, and Haugh with five tackles. Josh Levine, Dan Schultz and Brandon Haugh had interceptions.

Lennox and Matt Holland had seven tackles apiece for NRHEG. Michael Hullopeter made six stops, Justin Hove four.

The Rebels were without one of their top players in John Niebuhr, who sat with an injury.

He’s expected back this Friday for a big game against Minnesota Valley Lutheran.

“It was a good game because our reserves got to get some time in,” said Schimek. “Special teams played just a huge role because of field position.”

USC &045;

28

7

0

0

&045;

35

NR

&045;

0

0

0

6

&045;

6

First Quarter

USC – Haugh 3 run (Knutson kick)

USC – Garvick recovered blocked punt in end zone (Knutson kick)

USC – Wetzell 25 run (Knutson kick)

USC – Pederson 52 pass from Wetzell (Knutson kick)

Second Quarter

USC – Wetzell 43 run (Knutson kick)

Third Quarter

No scoring.

Fourth Quarter

NR – Lennox 9 run (run failed)

USC, NR

First downs: 1, 3

Rushing yards: 143, 14

Passing yards: 57, 5

Total yards: 200, 19

Pen.-Yds.: 3-20, 6-25

Turnovers: 2, 5

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING&045; USC, Wetzell 3-95; Pitcher 18-30; NR, Lennox 19-48; A.Wenzel 3-4.

PASSING&045; USC, Wetzell 2-5-0, 57; NR, Peterson 2-13-2, 5.

RECEIVING&045; USC, Pederson 1-52; Robinson 1-5; NR, M.Wenzel 1-5; Kormann 1-0.