Quarterback Nicholas Bushlack (2), upper left photo, drops back to pass while Brenden Drescher (9) helps provide pass protection.

It was a big win for the United South Central Rebel football team last week, Tuesday, Oct. 26, during the opening round of the Section 2A Football Tournament.

The No. 4 seeded Rebels downed the No. 5 seed Greyhounds of New Ulm Cathedral by a score of 39-7.

With the win, USC advances to play the No. 1 seeded Mayer Lutheran Crusaders on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m., at Mayer.

The two teams met on Oct. 8 at Mayer, and the Rebels lost the game 49-12.

Against the Cathedral Greyhounds last Tuesday, the USC Rebels scored touchdowns on their first four possessions of the ball.

In fact, USC scored two touchdowns each in the first, second and fourth quarters, on their way to the big win.

The Rebels’ first TD of the game came on an eight play, 80-yard drive. It culminated with a 32 yard run by Colten Quade. It was Quade also making the rushing two-point conversion, giving USC the 8-0 lead.

Cathedral came right back and made a six play, 70-yard scoring drive. The touchdown came on a 55 yard run, with a successful kick for an extra point.

That made the score 8-7 in favor of the Rebels. It was also the only scoring the Crusaders would manage during the rest of the game.

USC’s second score of the first quarter came on a long 13 play, 80-yard march down the field. The TD came on a 10-yard run by quarterback Nick Bushlack, which was a fourth down and five yards to go situation for the Rebels.

Quade tried to run in the two-point conversion, but was stopped short of the goal line.

The Rebels’ score in the second quarter came on a Bushlack to Quade six-yard touchdown pass. The kick try for an extra point failed.

The scoring drive covered 70 yards in eight plays. The TD pass was the next play after a Quade pass attempt to a waiting Bushlack in the end zone play failed.

The Rebels’ next score was right before the half ended and was a five play, 48-yard drive.

Bushlack lateraled the ball to Jon Martinez who threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Luke Pederson for the score.

Bushlack’s attempt to run in the two-point conversion failed.

Half time score of the game was Rebels 26, Greyhounds 7.

Neither team scored in the third quarter.

In the final quarter, the Rebels reached the end zone after an eight play, 48 yard march, which ended in a two-yard run by Quade. The kick for extra point by Bob Schindler was good.

The final touchdown came on a one-yard run by Collin Van Cleave. The kick for PAT was blocked. That made the final score 39-7.

The Rebels were 3 of 6 passing for 38 yards. Bushlack connected on 2 of 4 attempts for 18 yards and Martinez hit his one pass attempt that was good for 20 yards and a touchdown.

Quade led the rushing attack with 205 yards on 33 carries. Bushlack added 107 yards on nine totes. Brendan Drescher added 29 yards on seven carries and Martinez had four rushes for 21 yards.

In total the Rebels had 363 yards gained on the ground, compared to the Greyhounds’ 153. Total yardage was 401 for USC, 184 for Cathedral.

USC also ran 60 plays to their 40, had 23 first downs to their seven and 30:32 for time of possession to their 17:28.