For the first time in school history the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva football team will have two members playing in the Minnesota High School All-Star Football game.

Recently graduated seniors Dakota Tracy and Blake Kerkhoff will represent the Panthers in St. Cloud Saturday when they play for the Outstate All-Star Team at 7 p.m. at Husky Stadium.

The game pits the state’s best 89 outstate players against the best 89 players from the metro area. The teams were chosen by members of the Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association.

The last time NRHEG sent a player to the game was in 1992 when Scott Sommers was selected.

“It’s really an honor,” Tracy said. “I’m just soaking it all in.”

Tracy played quarterback for an 8-0 Panthers team and threw for more than 900 yards and rushed for 250 yards in the fall.

“Dakota could have called the plays himself,” NRHEG head coach Dan Stork said. “It was like having another coach out on the field.”

Kerkhoff stated at running back for the Panthers and amassed 1,320 yards and scored 13 touchdowns as a senior. Kerkhoff also averaged 171 yards of total offense a game for NRHEG.

“Blake was a stud,” Stork said.

Both players were starters for NRHEG since their sophomore years and helped lead a successful Panthers squad.

“I’m thrilled for those guys,” Stork said. “It’s great for the program and it helps put us on the map.”

Tracy will play at St. Thomas in the fall and Kerkhoff will play at Gustavus.