NEW ULM &045; In two games, Minnesota Valley Lutheran had not given up a touchdown.

The NRHEG Panthers spoiled that in the second quarter and nearly handed the Chargers their first loss of the year, falling 19-14 in a Gopher Valley Conference football game at MVL Saturday.

The outcome was in doubt until the final minute, when the Panthers’ bid for a game-winning score was stopped on fourth down.

&uot;Our kids battled the entire game,&uot; said NRHEG coach Dan Stork. &uot;There is definitely no quit in this team.&uot;

Field position was the story. MVL needed only 24 yards on its first scoring drive and 37 for the

second while taking a 12-0 lead.

After Justin Hove recovered a MVL fumble, Bjorn Peterson hooked up with Jake Bushlack on a 38-yard touchdown pass. Dan Lewer kicked the PAT and it was 12-7 at halftime.

The Chargers went 55 yards in nine plays with the opening second-half kickoff.

It remained 19-7 until late in the fourth, when Peterson led the Panthers 77 yards in 11 plays with 2:32 remaining and no time outs, this time connecting with Bushlack from 26 yards out. Lewer added the PAT and it was 19-7 with 1:23 left.

The Panthers recovered an on-side kick and, after a penalty and a pass completion, were threatening again, but consecutive penalties backed them up and they turned it over on downs with 12 seconds left.

Defensive leaders: Brett Wangsness 15 tackles and a sack, Kaleb Jacobson 10 tackles, Justin Hove 10 tackles, Chris Hager nine tackles, Ben Groth eight tackles and an interception.

NR

0

7

0

7&045;14

MVL

12

0

7

0&045;19

First Quarter

MVL &045; Holzhueter 4 run (PAT failed)

MVL &045; Nass 4 pass from A.Beilke (PAT failed)

Second Quarter

NR &045; Bushlack 38 pass from Peterson (Lewer kick)

Third Quarter

MVL &045; Beilke run (kick successful)

Fourth Quarter

NR &045; Bushlack 26 pass from Peterson (Lewer kick)

NR

MVL

First downs

12

15

Rushing yards

80

243

Passing yards

206

62

Total yards

286

305

Pen.-Yds.

8-50

10-60

Turnovers

2

2

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING&045;NR, Balfe 10-42; Lennox 7-21; Peterson 5-14; Kormann 1-2; Bushlack 2-1.

PASSING&045; NR, Peterson 11-30-2, 180; Bushlack 1-1-0, 26.

RECEIVING&045; NR, Bushlack 5-106; Christensen 3-55; Peterson 1-26; Lennox 2-12; Balfe 1-7.