After a one-point loss to rival Maple River last season, the United South Central football team waited with bated breath for another opportunity to knock off the Eagles.

The Rebels (5-1, 4-1 Gopher Valley AA) made good on their chance Friday in Mapleton in a 20-0 victory over the Eagles to end a four-year losing streak.

Last season USC fell to Maple River on a failed two-point conversion, but this year the Rebels put the game away early.

Kyle Bauman caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Riley Swearingen in the second quarter on a fourth down play to give USC a 7-0 lead after A.J. Dreyer’s extra point and Swearingen broke loose for a 44-yard touchdown run on the Rebels’ next possession to make it a 14-0 game.

Swearingen, who finished with 172 yards of total offense, added his third touchdown of the game in the third quarter when he ran in from 1 yard out to make it a 20-0 game.

“We wanted this one,” said USC head coach Brad Huse. “We haven’t won for four years, (it’s) a good one to get from them.”

The Rebels’ defense limited the Eagles (0-6, 0-5 Gopher Valley AA) to 139 yards of total offense, 115 of which came in the first half, and forced four turnovers.

The win keeps the Rebels in the hunt for a conference title. USC remained tied at the top of the conference with Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.

“We’re in uncharted territory with this many wins,” said Huse, whose team hasn’t had a winning season since 2003. “We haven’t had this many wins in a long time.”

The Rebels face Minnesota Valley Lutheran Friday in Wells. The Chargers defeated New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva 15-6 Friday night.

USC 20, Maple River 0

USC 0 14 6 0 — 20

Maple River 0 0 0 0 — 0

Second Quarter

USC— Bauman 5 pass from Swearingen, (Dreyer kick).

USC—Swearingen 44 run (Dreyer kick).

Third Quarter

USC—Swearingen 1 run (run failed)

USC Maple River

First Downs 10 11

Total Net Yards 239 139

Rushes-Yards 30-120 48-129

Passing 119 10

Punt Returns 1-10 1-10

Punts 4-149 4-105

Kickoff Returns 1-18 3-58

Interceptions-Ret. 2-20 0-0

Comp-Att-Int 11-21-0 2-11-2

Sacked-Yard lost 0-0 1-NA

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-2

Penalties-Yards 6-40 5-35

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—USC, Swearingen 13-53, Wood 7-30, Morton 8-32, Huper 2-5.

PASSING—USC, Swearingen 11-21-0-119.

RECEIVING— USC, Bauman 3-36, Huper 1-26, Wigern 1-33, Lackey 4-9, Wood 2-15.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.