Blooming Prairie defense holds NRHEG scoreless through first 3 quarters

NEW RICHLAND — All of the big plays came through the air on Friday night during the season opener for the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva and Blooming Prairie football teams.

Panthers quarterback Trevor Tracy connected with wideout Preston Peterson in the fourth quarter for NRHEG’s only score, and Blooming Prairie quarterback John Rumpza threw a touchdown pass in each quarter as the Awesome Blossoms won 28-7.

Both defenses were stingy against the run. NRHEG held Blooming Prairie to fewer than two yards per carry. Although, that didn’t stop the Awesome Blossoms from trying. Blooming Prairie rushed the ball 38 times — 14 more attempts than the Panthers.

“We handled their run quite well,” NRHEG head coach Dan Stork said. “They were big up front and physical, but our interior line and linebackers played well.”

However, NRHEG didn’t fare much better on the ground. The Panthers were held to 45 yards on 24 carries — 0.3 yards per carry more than the Awesome Blossoms.

Blooming Prairie scored the first points of the game with 6 minutes and 38 seconds left in the first quarter. The Awesome Blossoms added another touchdown with 48 seconds remaining in the second quarter to take a 14-0 lead at the half.

Early in the third quarter, both teams had trouble moving the ball. Blooming Prairie scored on a three-yard pass to take a 21-0 lead with about 3 minutes left in the third. In the fourth quarter, the Panthers forced the Blossoms into a 4th-and-9 situation, but Blooming Prairie scored on a 16-yard pass.

NRHEG scored its touchdown on a 67-yard pass with just under 5 minutes left in regulation. Peterson caught the pass about 30 yards down the field, broke a tackle in the secondary and dashed to the end zone for his first varsity touchdown.

“I just tried to beat the defender and execute the play,” Peterson said. “It just went from there.”

Tracy started his first varsity contest behind center. He was 7-of-15 through the air for 132 yards and a score.

Stork said the sophomore trio of Zeke Erickson, Wyatt Fitterer and John Weller also saw their first varsity action and played well.

NRHEG’s defense was led by Dillon Parpart and Nick Bartness. The duo tied with a team-high 13 tackles and regularly pressured Rumpza. Spencer Tollefson and Peterson added seven tackles each. Tollefson also had an interception.

Kickoff was moved from 7 to 8 p.m. due to heat concerns.

Next, the Panthers host Waterville-Elysian-Morristown at 7 p.m. Friday. The Buccaneers are coming off a Week 1 loss at home 35-8 to Tri-City United.