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.