Dylan Bonsack (22) gets through the line and races past the defenders during USC’s 38-7 win over St. Clair earlier in October. The Rebels played Lester Prairie on Nov. 1 for the chance to go to the State Tournament.

The No. 2-seeded United South Central Rebels earned the right to take on top-seeded Lester Prairie on Nov. 1 in the Section 2A championship game in New Prague after triumphing over the No. 3-seeded Cleveland/Immanuel Lutheran Clippers 16-10 in a Section 2A semifinal game on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Lester Prairie earned their place in the section finals by defeating Gibbon/Fairfax-Winthrop 39-6 in the other Section 2A semifinal contest.

Cleveland/IL got on the board first against USC on their second possession when they drove the ball down to the USC seven-yard line.

The Clippers faced a third down needing three yards for a first down when the Rebels’ Nathan Mutschler tackled Cleveland/IL ball carrier Kale Kelley for a five-yard loss. The Clippers elected to attempt a 29-yard field goal and Caleb Possin kicked it through the uprights. With 14 seconds remaining in the first quarter, the Clippers held a 3-0 lead.

With 4:39 left to play in the second quarter, Cleveland/IL had moved the ball into USC territory at the 47-yard line before the Rebels’ Dylan Bonsack intercepted a pass by the Clippers’ Carson Lyons and returned it to the Cleveland/IL 18-yard line.

USC was unable to overcome a false-start penalty on first down and ended up turning the ball over on downs to Cleveland/IL.

Three plays later the Rebels intercepted Lyons again. Avery Crawford got the pick and returned the ball to the Clippers’ 15-yard line.

Byron Getchell ran the ball twice for a total of 11 yards and a USC first down at the four-yard line. Two plays later Getchell got the call again and carried the ball for a three-yard touchdown. Getchell also ran the ball in for the extra point to give the Rebels an 8-3 lead with 43 seconds to go until halftime.

Cleveland/IL regained the lead in the third quarter when Lyons connected on a 31-yard touchdown pass to Brennan Kortuem with 6:29 remaining to play in the third quarter. Possin kicked the extra point to give the Clippers a 10-8 lead.

Cleveland/IL maintained their lead until just over six minutes remained in the fourth quarter.

Getchell’s five-yard touchdown run capped off a 23-play 78-yard drive and put the Rebels in the lead 14-10. Getchell threw the ball to Isaiah Gonzalez for the two-point conversion to make the score 16-10 with USC on top.

Cleveland/IL started their ensuing drive at their own 25-yard line. Seventeen plays later, the Clippers had driven the ball all the way down to the Rebels’ five-yard line.

With only six seconds showing on the scoreboard clock, Cleveland/IL had time for one more play.

Lyons dropped back to pass but was sacked by USC’s Gavin Grunzke to end the game and give the Rebels the victory and the chance to play in Section 2A Championship.

USC finished the game with 15 first downs and 188 yards of total offense. They gained 173 yards on the ground and 15 through the air.

Cleveland/IL tallied 13 first downs and compiled 277 yards of total offense. They rushed for 25 yards and threw for 252.

The leading rusher for USC was Getchell with 100 yards on 20 carries. Bonsack finished with 37 yards on 13 attempts.

Bullerman was 2-for-4 passing for 15 yards.

Getchell led the way on defense with seven tackles followed by Bonsack with six and Mutschler with five.