After years of adversity the United South Central football team is reveling in its turnaround season.

The Rebels (7-1, 6-1 Gopher Valley AA) had dropped three of their last four contests with New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva, but wrapped up their first conference championship since 2001 and a No. 1 seed in the section playoffs with an 18-0 win over the Panthers Thursday in New Richland.

Seniors Taylor Ovrebo and A.J. Dreyer have played on the varsity team for the last three years and were finally able to bask in the glory of a winning season.

“It’s been a struggle ever since we got on varsity,” Dreyer said. “Finally this is a big payoff for all of our time.”

The Rebels have done a lot of growing up in the last three years and their maturity has helped guide the team through a drastic turnaround this season.

USC features 15 seniors who had won a total of five games in the previous three years.

“We knew what we could do,” Dreyer said. “We came into the season feeling pretty confident.”

The Rebels were intent on stopping NRHEG’s running attack and did so with one of their best defensive performances. USC limited the Panthers (5-3, 4-3 Gopher Valley AA) to 88 yards of total offense and five first downs.

“To come over here and shut them out on their home field is a pretty good feeling,” said Rebels head coach Brad Huse.

USC and NRHEG were unable to get on the board in the first half but the Rebels got rolling in the second half thanks in part to the Panthers’ sloppy play. The Rebels took advantage of NRHEG’s three turnovers in the game and a short field in the second half for 18 points.

“I am very disappointed with our performance tonight,” said Panthers head coach Dan Stork. “We made way too many mistakes against a very good USC team. Anytime you combine eight penalties for 63 yards with three turnovers, you aren’t going to win too many games.”

With the soggy conditions limiting the effectiveness of the passing game, the Rebels turned toward their running game. The offensive line, which returned four starters this season, won the battle up front and USC gained 119 yards on the ground.

Senior quarterback Riley Swearingen scored on a 1-yard run in the third quarter and Tyson Morton scored after a NRHEG turnover from a yard out in the fourth quarter to take a 12-0 lead. Less than two minutes after Morton’s touchdown, the Rebels took advantage of another Panther turnover when Swearingen found Kyle Bauman for a 6-yard touchdown pass to make the game 18-0.

“We had the big plays when we needed to and took advantage of those turnovers,” Huse said.

USC hosts Maple River in the first round of the Section 2AA playoffs Tuesday while NRHEG travels to Dodge Center to face Triton in a 2-7 matchup.

USC 18, NRHEG 0

USC 0 0 6 12 — 18

NRHEG 0 0 0 0 —  0

Third Quarter

USC—Swearingen 1 run (pass failed), 7:06.

Fourth Quarter

USC—Morton 1 run (pass failed), 11:56.

USC—Bauman 6 pass from Swearingen (pass failed), 10:41.

USC NRHEG

First downs 10 5

Total Net Yards 178 88

Rushes-Yards 44-119 34-88

Passing 59 0

Punt Returns 2-14 0-0

Punts 4-35.5 8-20.3

Kickoff Returns 0-0 4-67

Interceptions-Ret. 2-10 0-0

Comp-Att-Int 5-13-0 0-7-2

Sacked-Yard lost NA NA

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-1

Penalties-Yards 7-45 8-63

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—USC, Swearingen 13-31, Wood 12-39, Morton 9-18, Melby 5-20, J. Huper 2-6, Lackey 2-3, Mutschler 1-2. NRHEG, Lindell 12-57, Wagner 13-40, Klocek 4-0, Billing 2-3, Bolinger 2-(minus 7), No. 45 1-(minus 5).

PASSING—USC, Swearingen 5-13-0-59. NRHEG, Bolinger 0-6-1-0, No. 45 0-1-1-0.

RECEIVING—USC, Bauman 4-52, W. Huper 1-7.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.