Quarterback Nicholas Bushlack was 8-for-23 passing against Mayer Lutheran.

The United South Central Rebels ran into a tough Mayer Lutheran Crusaders team on Saturday evening, Oct. 30.

The Rebels had a difficult time trying to score against the tough defense of the Crusaders. The final score of the Section 2A semi-final game was 35-0 in favor of Mayer Lutheran.

USC had been the No. 4 seed, while Mayer Lutheran was the No. 1 seed.

The Rebels stopped the Crusaders’ first drive and forced them to punt. USC mounted a 55-yard drive, but it came to an end with an interception.

Mayer Lutheran’s ensuing drive ended when they went for it on a fourth down play and failed to get a first down. But, USC’s next drive ended with a fumble.

The Crusaders’ first score came on their first play of their next possession, a 62-yard run.

The end of the first quarter had Mayer Lutheran up 7-0.

They would get another touchdown in the second quarter on a three-yard run after a seven-play, 55-yard drive.

Score at the half was 14-0 in favor of the Crusaders.

Mayer Lutheran scored another touchdown just moments into the second half, when they took the opening kick off and returned it 62 yards for a score.

The Rebels were forced to punt on their first possession of the second half, but the Crusaders muffed the catch and USC took over again. However, the Rebels failed to convert on a fourth and seven play and turned the ball over on downs.

Mayer Lutheran scored their second touchdown of the third quarter on a 10-play, 56-yard march that ended with a 15-yard run.

USC’s next possession ended with another interception.

Mayer Lutheran scored again in the fourth quarter on an eight-play, 55-yard march that ended with a 26-yard pass play.

The Rebels’ three possessions in the final quarter ended with a punt, another interception, and the end of the game.

USC was close to Mayer Lutheran in passing yards, gaining 84 to their 98. But, in rushing yards, the Crusaders had 219 to the Rebels’ 15.

Mayer Lutheran had 14 first downs to USC’s seven, 51 total plays to 44 for USC, and 26:04 in time of possession to the Rebels’ 21:56.

Nick Bushlack was eight of 23 passing for 106 yards, but as a team the Rebels lost 22 yards passing and so had the 84 total yards through the air.

Taybor Conley caught three passes for 65 yards, Luke Pederson had three catches for 29 yards and Colten Quade one for 11 yards.

Quade had 10 rushes for 18 yards, Brendan Drescher five for 13 yards and Jon Martinez two for seven yards. Bushlack had one carry for a loss of 23 yards.