Panthers pick up first win of season against Crusaders

Spirits were high in New Richland on Friday night as the NRHEG Panthers football team celebrated teacher appreciation as the seniors gave their favorite teachers their away jersey to wear at the game.

The seniors’ love for their teachers translated onto the field as they played their heart out and came away with their first win of the season. They won against the Mayer Lutheran High Crusaders 38-15 at home.

The Panthers came right out of the gate ready as they scored two touchdowns to take an early 13-0 lead.

The first score was a 2-yard run by senior wide receiver Owen Bartlett on a fourth and goal. The touchdown came after a great 65-yard kick return by senior Alden Dobberstein to start the game. After the Crusaders tried for a fourth down conversion of their own but failed, senior running back Harbor Cromwell scored on a 44-yard touchdown run. The Panthers made the PAT on their first touchdown but did not on their second.

But the Crusaders answered with a 16-yard touchdown pass to make the score 13-7. The Crusaders never took the lead in the game though, as the Panthers ran away with the lead, leading 25-7 at halftime thanks to two rushing touchdowns by quarterback Dobberstein.

The Panthers dominated the run game the third quarter as well, with sophomore running back Ryan Schlaak running for 63 yards for the touchdown and Cromwell having his second rushing touchdown of the night to take a 38-7 lead.

Both teams started their second stringers and underclassmen in the fourth quarter, as players who normally don’t get the opportunity to play saw action. The Crusaders got a touchdown and a safety in the quarter, but it was too little too late as the Panthers won 38-15.

“We ran the ball extremely well, racking up over 300 yards rushing,” NRHEG head coach Marc Kruger said about the victory. “Our defense really stepped up and played lights out.”

The Panthers travel to Mankato next week to take on St. Clair/Loyola before coming back home to celebrate homecoming on Friday, Sept. 27 against Medford.

OFFENSIVE STATS

Passing

Alden Dobberstein- 2/6, 8 yards

Rushing

Harbor Cromwell- 12 att, 153 yards, 2 TD

Ryan Schlaak- 4 att, 84 yards, 1 TD

Alden Dobberstein- 6 att, 54 yards, 2 TD

Owen Bartlett- 1 att, 2 yards, 1 TD

Receiving

Aedan Hanna- 1 rec, 21 yards

Alden Dobberstein- 1 rec, -13 yards