The United South Central Rebels football team won the battle of the stats sheet, outplaying their opponent in every single category except one.

The important one. The final score.

The Rebels lost a close one, 8-6, to the Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons Knights on Friday night, Oct. 16.

USC dominated in every stats category. The Rebels had 255 yards of total offense to the Knights 175. They ran 63 plays compared to their 47.

USC had 153 rushing yards and 102 passing, while AC/GE had 130 rushing and 45 passing.

But, all that didn’t matter as the Rebels ended up losing to the Knights.

USC scored first in the game. After their first two possessions in the first quarter ended in a fumble and an interception, the Rebels scored on their first drive of the second quarter, an 11 play, 46 scoring drive.

It came on a fourth and one at the Knight’s four yard line. Quarterback Ethan Dallman handed the ball to Jackson Spizzirri who took it in for the score.

The same combination of hand off from Dallman to Spizzirri for the two point conversion failed, however, and that would make a big difference at the end of the game.

With 5:06 left in the first half, USC led 6-0.

The Rebels forced a three and out and a punt for the Knights and proceeded to march down the field on a 65 yard, eight play drive.

With just 15 seconds left in the half, Dallman connected with Riley Staloch who ran for a 41-yard completion, getting to the 15 yard-line, but time expired in the half.

The Rebels’ next four possessions in the second half ended with punts. The Knights’ next five possessions ended in four punts and a turnover on downs.

But then, at the start of the fourth quarter, AC/GE scored a touchdown on a 44-yard pass play to tie the game. They took the lead on the successful two-point conversion, a running play.

The Rebels’ went 41 yards on their next possession, but failed to convert on a fourth and two play. Their final possession of the game ended with an interception on a fourth and eight situation.

Dallman was 10 of 24 passing for 102 yards with two interceptions. Staloch had the one catch for 41 yards, Nick Bushlack had three catches for 35 yards, Nataniel Clore four for 15 and Spizzirri one for nine.

Spizzirri was the leading rusher with 107 yards on 24 carries. Dallman had 35 yards on nine carries and Colten Quade 16 yards on five totes.

Next up for the Rebels was a home game against Lester Prairie which was played on Friday night, Oct. 23. Details on that game will be in the next Faribault County Register.