USC running back Byron Getchell runs away from a host of JWP Bulldogs during a game earlier this month. Getchell and the Rebels will host St. James in an opening round playoff game in Wells on Tuesday, Oct. 24.

It was a back-and-forth contest when the United South Central Rebels battled the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Panthers in football on Wednesday night, Oct. 18.

In the end, it was the host Panthers who prevailed by a score of 27-26.

The Rebels got on the board first when they engineered a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to open the game. Jonathan Martinez scored the touchdown on a six-yard run but the two-point conversion failed to make the score 6-0 in favor of USC.

Neither team would score during the remainder of the first half.

The Panthers received the kickoff to begin the second half and returned the ball to their 43-yard line.

It took NRHEG 13 plays to travel 57 yards for their first score of the game. The extra-point kick was good and the Panthers took a 7-6 lead.

USC’s Seth Kayser returned the ensuing kickoff 22 yards to the Rebel 42-yard line and the USC offense took over from there.

It only took the Rebels seven plays to regain the lead. Blake Bullerman carried the ball over the goal line from four yards out to put USC on top 12-7. The PAT was no good so the Rebels maintained a five-point advantage.

The fourth quarter began with USC still in front 12-7. But, that changed on the very first play of the final 12 minute quarter when Panthers’ quarterback Alden Dobberstein completed a pass to wide receiver Jackson Chrz who eluded the Rebels’ defenders on his way to a 57-yard touchdown. George Roesler’s kick for the extra point was good to give NRHEG a 14-12 lead.

A fumble by USC on the ensuing kickoff and subsequent recovery by NRHEG gave the home team excellent field position at the USC 28-yard line.

Two plays later Dobberstein hit Chrz with a 25-yard touchdown pass. The PAT was blocked but the Panthers now led the Rebels 20-12 with just under 10 minutes left to play.

Following the kickoff by the Panthers, the Rebels began their next drive at their 38-yard line.

It only took USC seven rushing plays to score again. Dylan Bonsack crossed the goal line from two yards out and Martinez ran the ball in for a two-point conversion to tie the game 20-20.

USC kicked the ball out of bounds so NRHEG began their next drive at their own 35-yard line.

On the second play of the drive Dobberstein broke loose for a 64-yard gain to the Rebels’ one-yard line. Jaylin Raab carried the ball in from there and Roesler kicked the extra point to give the Panthers a 27-20 lead with just over six minutes to play in the game.

It took USC seven plays to score again with Bonsack gaining the final yard for the touchdown. Trailing 27-26, the Rebels’ two-point conversion failed so the Panthers maintained a one-point lead with 3:20 remaining to play.

The Panthers were able to control the ball and wound the clock down to 20 seconds before they had to punt.

USC’s attempt at a long pass was intercepted so NRHEG was victorious 27-26.

USC will begin Section 2A playoffs by hosting St. James on Tuesday, Oct. 24. The game against the Saints will begin at 7 p.m.

St. Clair/Loyola 14,

USC 8 OT

Statistically, the United South Central Rebel football team really out-played the St. Clair-Loyola Cyclones on Thursday, Oct.12.

However, the Rebels ended up losing to the Cyclones 14-8 in overtime.

USC had 104 rushing yards to St. Clair-Loyola’s 36, 32 passing yards to their zero, for a total of 136 yards of offense to their 36.

The Rebels also ran 43 plays to their 32.

Field conditions were less than ideal, with heavy rains making traction difficult.

The Cyclones scored first, in the first quarter. They blocked a Rebel punt attempt and recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown. They also successfully ran in the try for a two-point conversion and took the early 8-0 lead.

The Rebels responded in the second quarter when they successfully marched down the field on a 12-play, 61-yard scoring drive.

The touchdown came on a two-yard run by Blake Bullerman after getting a handoff from Jonathan Martinez.

The two combined again for the two-point conversion, this time on a pass play, Martinez to Bullerman.

That made the score 8-8, which stood for the entire second half and was the score at the end of regulation.

In the overtime, St. Clair-Loyola scored a TD on a pass play. The ball was in the air for 15 yards, and the receiver ran another 30 yards for the touchdown, when several Rebel defenders could not overcome slippery field conditions.

The game ended right then, with the Cyclones getting the football version of the baseball walk-off home run.

During the game, before the overtime, St. Clair-Loyola’s eight possessions of the ball during regulation ended in six punts, one interception and one turnover on downs.

USC had 10 possessions, with two ending with punts, two with fumbles, one with an interception, two on downs, two with the end of the half and end of the game, and the one which ended with a touchdown.

Martinez was 3 for 5 passing for 32 yards. Bullerman caught two for 31 yards and Dylan Bonsack caught one for one yard.

Martinez was the leading rusher with 42 yards on nine rushes, Byron Getchell had 25 yards on 10 totes, Bullerman had 19 yards on seven attempts and Bonsack had 18 on eight carries.

Next up for the Rebels was a game set for Wednesday night, Oct. 18 when they will take on New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva, in New Richland, for the last regular season game.