NRHEG football team improves to 2-0

Senior John Cole races down the sideline and gives NRHEG High School football fans something to cheer during the Panthers' home opener Friday night at New Richland. Cole and his teammates had a big game, defeating Lester Prairie-Holy Trinity 34-6 while improving their record to 2-0. (Star Eagle photo by Jim Lutgens)

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

The NRHEG High School football team is exactly where it hoped to be after two weeks of the season.

But the real test comes this week.

The Panthers will take a 2-0 record north to face Waterville-Elysian-Morristown on the heels of a 34-6 triumph over Lester Prairie-Holy Trinity in their home opener at New Richland Friday, Aug. 28.

The Panthers were dominant in all phases, netting 357 total yards while holding the Bulldogs to 125, including 18 rushing.

“We came out and played mistake-free football,” said NRHEG coach Dan Stork, whose squad had zero turnovers and only one penalty. 

The Panthers seemed to score at will in the first half and the defense dominated throughout the game, led by senior captain Zeke Erickson with 5.5 sacks and 10 tackles.

Junior Jason Jongbloedt led the Panthers in rushing with 118 yards on 14 attempts while sophomore Perry Peterson carried 11 times for 81 yards.

Senior quarterback Palmer Peterson completed five of 11 passes for 136 yards and no interceptions, with touchdown passes of  43 yards to John Cole and 38 yards to Jongbloedt. He also ran 41 yards for a score.

Cole, who had three receptions for 72 yards, scored an impressive touchdown for the second week in a row, catching the ball despite being interfered with and breaking tackles on his way to the end zone.

Jongbloedt also scored in the first half as the Panthers took a 28-0 lead into intermission. Noah Sletten scored in the fourth quarter before the visitors finally got on the board.

“We had a number of backs run the ball very well, and Palmer Peterson took advantage of LPHT loading the box,” said Stork. “We are very happy to be 2-0 going into a tough game with WEM next week in Waterville.”

The Bucs are 2-0, blanking St. James Area 50-0 in the opener and defeating Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 32-14 in week two.

Game time in Waterville is 7 p.m.

NRHEG 34, Lester Prairie-Holy Tr. 6

LPHT          0        0        0        6     —  6

NRHEG      14      14       0        6     — 34

First Quarter

NRHEG — Jongbloedt 5 run (Prigge kick)

NRHEG — Palmer Peterson 41 run (Prigge kick)

Second Quarter

NRHEG — Cole 43 pass from Palmer Peterson (Prigge kick)

NRHEG — Jongbloedt 38 pass from Palmer Peterson (Prigge kick)

Fourth Quarter

NRHEG — N.Sletten 1 run (kick failed)

LPHT — Gebhardt 7 run (kick failed

                                    LPHT       NRHEG

First Downs                      9                 16

Rushing attempts              33                42

Yds. Rushing                   18               221

Passing                         13-20-0        5-11-0

Yds. Passing                    107              136

Total plays                         53              53

Total Yds.                        125             357

Penalties                         6-50             1-5

Fumbles-lost                    1-0              0-0

Third down                     2-14             8-14

Punts-Avg.                     6-31.0         3-31.7

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing — NRHEG: Jongbloedt 14-118; Perry Peterson 11-81; Hoppe 2-4; Bailey 5-24; Hoppe 2-4; N.Sletten 2-2; Palmer Peterson 5 —6; LPHT: Heigl 8-35; Gebhardt 14-28; Hecksel 1 —18; Ziermann 10 —27

Passing — NRHEG: Palmer Peterson 5-11-0, 136; LPHT— Ziermann 13-20-0, 107

Receiving — NRHEG: Cole 3-72; Jongbloedt 1-38; Staloch 1-26; LPHT — Bayerl 5-42; Heimerl 3-32; Heigl 2-20; Schwantes 1-10; Gebhardt 2-3

NRHEG DEFENSE (tackles)

Erickson 10 (5.5 sacks), Jongbloedt 5, K.Sletten 4.5, Fitterer 3.5 (1 sack), Hoppe 3.5, Palmer Peterson 3, Perry Peterson 3, Prigge 2.5, Agrimson 2.5, Staloch 2, Cole 2, N.Sletten 1.5, Weller 1.5, Herrmann 1, Buckmeier 1, Jensen .5, Wicks .5