Panthers win on Senior Night
Published 10:28 pm Wednesday, October 18, 2017
- NRHEG senior Perry Peterson stiff arms a tackler to the ground before picking up a few more yards in the Wednesday night win over LCWM. - Tyler Julson/Albert Lea Tribune
NRHEG football team dominates LCWM in last regular season game
NEW RICHLAND — The NRHEG football team hosted Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial for its final game of the regular season Wednesday night. The Panthers dominated the Knights from the first whistle as they came away with the senior night win, 34-8.
It took almost the entire first quarter for the Panthers to find the end zone, but once they did they never looked back. The first score came on a two-yard rush by junior Tyler Jacobson. After a successful PAT attempt by junior Hailey Westrum, the Panthers led, 7-0.
On the ensuing kickoff, junior Spencer Tufte hopped on a loose ball to get the ball right back for the Panthers. They would fail to score after the turnover, but it put the momentum firmly on the Panther’s side.
Jacobson would find the end zone again four minutes into the second quarter. That time, he would score on a one-yard rush, putting NRHEG up 14-0 after another made PAT kick.
Under four minutes later, Jacobson would get in the end zone for his third touchdown of the night. A blocked extra point had the Panthers on top, 20-0.
It appeared that the Knights would threaten to score before the halftime whistle. However, on the Knights first play in the red zone, freshman Kordell Schlaak jumped on a fumble by the Knights and sent the Panthers to halftime with a 20-point lead.
The first drive of the second half for the Knights ended when senior Brendon Strand intercepted the ball and returned it to mid-field. NRHEG wouldn’t let the opportunity slip through its grasp; the team scored just a few plays later. The touchdown came on a five-yard rush from senior Perry Peterson. NRHEG would go for two and converted on a pass from junior Jake Stork to senior Cole Staloch. The Panthers now led 28-0 heading into the final quarter of play.
NRHEG scored its fifth touchdown just two minutes into the fourth quarter on a 28-yard run by sophomore Lonnie Wilson. After an incomplete pass on the two-point conversion attempt, the Panthers led the Knights, 34-0.
The Knights would get themselves on the board almost midway through the final quarter after a long rush and two-point conversion. However, it was too little too late for the comeback.
The Panthers dominated in nearly every facet of the game. Peterson and Jacobson ran the ball with force and were rarely tackled on the first attempt. The defense stuffed running holes and allowed minimal gains on every play.
NRHEG climbs to 4-4 on the season and will play again on Tuesday in the section 2AA tournament against an opponent yet to be determined.
- NRHEG senior Cole Staloch runs for a first down in the second quarter of the game against LCWM. The Panthers would go on to dominate the game, winning 34-8. – Tyler Julson/Albert Lea Tribune
- NRHEG senior Perry Peterson stiff arms a tackler to the ground before picking up a few more yards in the Wednesday night win over LCWM. – Tyler Julson/Albert Lea Tribune
- NRHEG junior Jake Stork drops back to pass against LCWM Wednesday night. A victory brought the Panthers’ record up to 4-4 on the season. – Tyler Julson/Albert Lea Tribune
- NRHEG junior place kicker Hailey Westrum attempts a PAT Wednesday night against LCWM. She was 2/3 on the night with one kick being blocked. – Tyler Julson/Albert Lea Tribune
- NRHEG comes out before the game against LCWM on senior night. The Panthers won the game 34-8, dominating every aspect of the game. – Tyler Julson/Albert Lea Tribune