By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
When the NRHEG High School football team started the season 0-4, not many people expected much out of the Panthers the rest of the way.
They proved those people wrong.
The Panthers posted four consecutive victories to finish the regular season, earning the No. 4 seed and a home section playoff game.
Unfortunately, that’s where the Panthers’ season ended, with a 34-22 loss to No. 5 seed Blue Earth Area Friday, Oct. 27 in New Richland.
“We had a hard start, with the Bucs moving the ball really well,” said NRHEG coach Marc Kruger, whose team finished with a record of 4-5. “We never caught up from there.”
But that does not mean Kruger didn’t take pride in the accomplish ments of the 2023 Panthers.
“I am very proud of this team and getting to 4-4 this year,” said Kruger. “Ending the year winning four straight is huge.”
The Panthers were never really in the game against BEA, trailing 12-0 after one quarter and 32-0 at halftime.
NRHEG put one touchdown on the scoreboard in the third period and two in the fourth.
The Bucs outgained the Panthers 429-178 in total yards, 348-142 rushing. The visitors totaled 22 first downs to NRHEG’s nine.
The Panthers will graduate seniors Jaylin Raab, Sam Olson, Jackson Chrz, Reese Routh, Zander Flatness, Garett Degen and George Roesler.
Blue Earth Area 38, NRHEG 22
BEA 12 20 6 0 — 38
NRHEG 0 0 6 16 — 22
First Quarter
BEA — 5 run (two-point conversion failed)
BEA — Langager 30 run (two-point conversion failed)
Second Quarter
BEA — 5 run (two-point conversion successful)
BEA — 2 run (two-point conversion failed)
BEA — Langager 11 run (two-point conversion failed)
Third Quarter
BEA — Langager 3 run (kick failed)
NRHEG — Raab 35 run (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
NRHEG — Olson 4 run (two-point conversion successful
NRHEG — Lewison 20 run (two-point conversion successful
BEA NRHEG
First downs 22 9
Total plays 60 42
Rushing yards 348 143
Passing Yds. 82 35
Total yards 429 178
Third down 4-8 1-7
Fourth down 1-2 0-2
Turnovers 0 1
Penalties 3-25 4-35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing – NRHEG: Raab 3-39; Olson 5-37; Cromwell 4-29; Lewison 1-20; Dobberstein 9-18; BEA: Langager 20-129; Rhey 6-42; Rest of Team 25-177
Passing – NRHEG: Dobberstein 3-14-1, 35; Olson 0-1-0, 0; BEA: 6-8-0, 81
Receiving — NRHEG: Roesler 2-18; Bartlett 1-17; BEA: Sonnek 2-18; Rest of team 4-63
Defense – NRHEG: Cromwell 12 tackles, 1 tackle for loss; Olson 6 tackles; Roesler 6 tackles, 2 assists, 1 tackle for loss; Bartlett 5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss; Ihrke 4 tackles, 1 assist; Parpart 3 tackles; Raab 2 tackles; Brouwers 2 tackles, 1 assist; Larson 2 tackles; Gilliland 1 tackle, 1 tackle for loss; Flatness 1 tackle, 1 tackle for loss; Rest of Team 8 tackles, 2 assists, 1 interception, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss