Defending champs stop Panthers, 55-8
NRHEG wide receiver Jaylin Raab (5) rushes to the edge to avoid multiple Maple River defenders. Raab and the Panthers were kept in check on offense by the Eagles as NRHEG was held to -14 rushing yards. Photo courtesy of Star Eagle
The NRHEG Panthers were forced to end their 2022 season after facing Maple River last week on the road and being handed a 55-8 loss.
NRHEG entered the game as the No. 6 seed in the Section 2AA tournament and faced the daunting task of upsetting No. 3-seed and defending section champions Maple River.
“It’s a tough end of the season, but the boys battled all year. Injuries were extremely tough on us,” said NRHEG Head Coach Marc Kruger reflecting on his team’s 2022 campaign.
As was the case for the majority of the regular season, NRHEG was forced to play from behind after Maple River leaped out to a 7-0 following a blocked punt that resulted in a scoop-and-score play for the Eagles.
The Eagles’ opening touchdown of the game would soon be followed by two more Maple River scores, putting the home favorites ahead 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.
NRHEG was forced to pass the ball early on as Maple River was able to fully neutralize the Panthers’ run game to the tune of -14 yards for the entire game.
Yet, offense remained elusive for NRHEG, and three more second-quarter scores by Maple River sent both teams into halftime with Maple River holding a 42-0 edge.
NRHEG was able to find some life near the end of the third quarter when sophomore quarterback Alden Dobberstein connected with junior wide receiver Sam Olson on a 33-yard touchdown pass.
The Panthers tacked on the two-point conversion behind a successful rush by junior wide receiver Jaylin Raab, but the score did not provide the spark NRHEG needed to mount a comeback.
Instead, Maple River capitalized on two drives in the fourth quarter to bring the final tally to 55-8, sending NRHEG home for the final time this season.
The loss to the Eagles moved NRHEG’s final record to 1-8 overall as the Panthers will look to rebound next season with a more experienced varsity roster.
Player Stats
Passing
#6 Alden Dobberstein – 10-20 118 yards 1 TD 1 Int.: #7 Gavin Lewison – 0-1 0 yards
Rushing
#5 Jaylin Raab – 2 att. 16 yards; #29 Andrew Phillips – 12 att. 15 yards; #42 Ethan Thompson – 1 att. -1 yard; #26 Deven Parpart – 1 att. -1 yard; #21 Lukas Loverink – 1 att. -3 yards; #7 Lewison – 3 att. -9 yards; #6 Dobberstein – 4 att. -31 yards
Receiving
#9 Sam Olson – 3 rec. 60 yards 1 TD; #8 Sawyer Prigge – 1 rec. 24 yards; #5 Raab – 1 rec. 15 yards; #21 Loverink – 4 rec. 14 yards; #29 Phillips – 1 att. 5 yards
Defense
#10 Nash Howe – 4.0 tackles 4 solo; #21 Loverink – 3.0 tackles 2 solo 2 assists; #29 Phillips – 3.0 tackles 2 solo 2 assists; #9 Olson – 3.0 tackles 3 solo; #42 Thompson – 2.5 tackles 2 solo 1 assist; #8 Prigge – 2.5 tackles 2 solo 1 assist; #5 Raab – 1.5 tackles 1 solo 1 assist