Members of the United South Central Rebels’ defense were ready for action during a game played earlier in the season. The season came to an end for USC when they were defeated by Lester Prairie 43-6 in the Section 2A Semifinals.

The United South Central Rebels knew they were in for a tough game when they faced the Class 1A No. 1-rated team in the state, the Lester Prairie Bulldogs, in the Section 2A semifinals on Saturday, Oct. 29.

It was only 10 days earlier that the Bulldogs had defeated the Rebels 42-0 in the final game of the regular season for both teams.

USC entered the game prepared to play and at the end of the first quarter Lester Prairie held a slim 8-6 lead.

However, it was all Bulldogs after that and Lester Prairie defeated USC 43-6.

The Bulldogs drew first blood against the Rebels on a 14-yard run by quarterback Nicholas Guggemos. Tanner Scheevel ran the ball in for the 2-point conversion to give the host team an 8-0 lead.

A 48-yard touchdown run by Johnny Martinez put USC on the board. The Rebels’ extra-point attempt failed, but at the end of the first quarter Lester Prairie only held an 8-6 lead.

The Bulldogs dominated the play in the second quarter and scored four touchdowns.

Their first score of the second stanza came on a 40-yard pass play from Guggemos to split end Trevor Schauer. A pass from Scheevel to Brayden Hollister was good for the 2-point conversion and a 16-6 Bulldog lead.

Lester Prairie’s LaDamien Gatlin intercepted a Rebel pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown. After a failed extra-point attempt, the score was 22-6 in favor of the Bulldogs.

Scheevel ran the ball in from one yard out and then kicked the extra point to put the Bulldogs on top 29-6.

The final Lester Prairie touchdown of the first half came on a five-yard run by Logan Lambrecht. Scheevel’s kick sailed through the uprights to give the Bulldogs a 36-6 halftime lead.

The only score in the second half came in the third quarter when Lester Prairie’s Schauer recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown.

Leading rushers for the Rebels were Martinez with 84 yards on eight carries and Byron Getchell who rushed the ball 15 times for 52 yards.

The USC defense was led by Blake Bullerman with nine tackles, Getchell with six, Martinez and Jake Cassens with four and Nick Bushlack with three.

It was the last high school football game for eight USC seniors. They are: Ethan Koehler, Bushlack, Conley, Nathaniel Clore, Jorge Martinez, Mason Logering, Emily Cassens and Tristian Obermeyer.

Lester Prairie was set to put their perfect 10-0 record on the line in the Section 2A finals against the Class 1A defending State Champions, the Mayer Lutheran Crusaders, on Friday, Nov. 4, in New Prague. The Crusaders have a record of 8-2.