Panthers advance to 6-1 against Knights

The Panthers found a slow start against the boys from Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial, but controlled the second half, shutting down the Knights 24-6. 
Guests of the Knights’ Homecoming game, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva made a grand entrance with a 17-yard touchdown run by Jason Jongbloedt to go up 7-0. The Knights were able to score late in the first half, but were unable to connect on the extra-point. The booming sound from an untimely firework from the previous touchdown seemingly disrupted the snap and hold of the extra point, and the Knights would not score again.  
The Panthers managed a quick drive to end the first half, with Sam Prigge hitting a 26-yard field goal with 33 seconds left in the second quarter. From there on out, it was all Panthers, at the boys from NRHEG scored another 14 points in the second half to secure the 24-6 victory.  
“Once again our offensive and defensive lines controlled the game,” Panthers Coach Dan Stork noted after the game. “Jason and Perry [Peterson] ran well again.” 
Now at 6-1, the Panthers sit in second in the Blue Division, under only 7-0 Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, which handed the Panthers their only loss of the season. Also sitting at 6-1 is Maple River, who NRHEG will end the season against in a home game on Friday.  
“We are building steam for a playoff run, but first and foremost we can’t wait to play Maple River,” said Stork. “Our kids have had this game circled on the schedule since last year.” 
Like NRHEG, Maple River’s single loss came in a 20-7 defeat against WEM. Both team’s have shown good offense and defense, but NRHEG statistically tops Maple River in both allowing only eight averaged points a game to Maple River’s 11 and 27 points scored a game to Maple River’s 21. 
The game will take place Thursday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. in New Richland, and the winner will take second place in the sub-district.  
 
NRHEG 24 
LCWM       6 
Friday, Oct. 2 
At Lake Crystal 
  
                  1   2     3    4 
NRHEG     7   3   14    0 
LCWN       0   6     0    0 
  
Scoring
First quarter 
NRHEG- Jason Jongbloedt 17-yard run (Sam Prigge kick is good), 2:47 
Second quarter 
LCWM- Matt Sheetz 3-yard run (Caleb Broker kick is no good), 4:28 
NRHEG- Prigge 26-yard field goal, 0:33 
Third quarter 
NRHEG- Jongbloedt 6-yard run (Prigge kick is good), 7:46 
NRHEG- Trey Hoppe 2-yard run (Prigge kick is good), 5:14 
 
Statistics 
TEAM: Total yards: NRHEG 310, LCWM 224. Rushing: NRHEG 278, LCWM 113. Passing: NRHEG 32, LCWM 111.  
INDIVIDUALS 
NRHEG
Rushing: Jongbloedt 25-122-2, Perry Peterson 7-83, Palmer Peterson 8-43, Hoppe 5-30. Passing: Palmer Peterson 2-5-32. Receiving: Perry Peterson 1-23, Karter Sletten 1-9.