On the Bucs’ first drive of the second half, BEA receiver Will Weerts (8) got behind the USC defenders and hauled in a 33-yard pass from quarterback Caden Juba that moved the football to the Rebels’ two-yard line. One play later Juba crossed the goal line to give the Bucs a 6-0 lead.

Following a scoreless first half, the host United South Central Rebels and the visiting Blue Earth Area Buccaneers combined to score 36 total points in the final 24 minutes of play with the Bucs coming out on top by a final score of 28-8.

Neither team had very much success moving the ball in the first half. The furthest BEA penetrated into USC territory was the 45-yard line. The Rebels hadn’t had much better success until a seven-yard run by Noah Gonzalez and a 15-yard penalty against the Bucs put the home team one yard outside the red zone at the BEA 21-yard line.

A three-yard loss and a holding penalty on the next two plays put the Rebels back 13 yards on the 34-yard line and two plays later the half was over.

The Bucs’ Landen Mastin bobbled the opening kickoff of the second half before picking up the ball and racing down USC’s sideline across midfield to the Rebels’ 47-yard line.

BEA quarterback Caden Juba had runs of five and seven yards to advance the ball to the 35-yard line. Juba then threw a pass to Will Weerts who caught the ball at the seven-yard line before being tackled at the two-yard line.

Juba ran the ball in from the two and then reached the ball across the goal line for a successful two-point conversion to give BEA an 8-0 lead early in the third quarter.

Following the Bucs’ kickoff, the Rebels began their ensuing drive from their own 43-yard line. A 13-yard run by Gonzalez followed by a 36-yard run by Leeland Getchell had USC with first-and-goal at the BEA eight-yard line.

A gain of five yards by Gonzalez was negated by a penalty which backed the Rebels up to the Bucs’ 19-yard line. USC was unable to overcome the penalty and ended up turning the ball over on downs. BEA took over at their own 20-yard line.

The Maroon and Gold attacked the Rebels’ pass defense with Juba and Weerts connecting on a 29-yard pass completion to put the Bucs just one yard shy of the 50-yard line. BEA picked up two first downs on four rushes by Juba to move the ball down to the USC 28-yard line. Following an incomplete pass, Juba ran the ball again covering the final 28 yards for his second touchdown of the evening and a 14-0 Buccaneer lead after the two-point conversion failed.

The Rebels began their ensuing drive on their own 43-yard line. A 30-yard run by Gonzalez and a 10-yard scamper by Getchell put USC in business at the BEA 17-yard line. However, the Bucs’ defense stiffened and the Rebels turned the ball over on downs again.

This time the Bucs took over at their own 19-yard line. Two runs by Juba for a total of 12 yards and a pass interference call against USC put the ball on the BEA 46-yard line.

Juba took the snap on the next play, found some daylight and sprinted to the end zone for a 54-yard touchdown run. Juba’s extra-point pass attempt was no good but the Bucs now led 20-0.

BEA’s kickoff went out of bounds and USC started their next drive on their 35-yard line. Six plays later the Rebels’ Shaun Peterson scored on a 27-yard touchdown run. Peterson also carried the ball across the goal line for a successful two-point conversion which trimmed the Bucs’ lead to 20-8.

Jack Bell of the Bucs covered up the Rebels’ squib kick at the BEA 35-yard line. A 13-yard run by Juba took the ball out to the 48-yard line. The junior signal caller then weaved his way through the Rebels’ defense for a 52-yard touchdown run. This time the Bucs’ two-point conversion was successful with Juba reaching the end zone standing to make the score 28-8.

The Rebels had the ball one more time but the game ended without anymore scores.

USC held the edge in many of the statistics. The Rebels had 16 first downs to the Bucs’ 13 and 339 yards of total offense to BEA’s 298. All 16 of USC’s first downs came on rushing plays while BEA had 11 rushing first downs and two through the air.

The Rebels had a total of 318 rushing yards and 21 passing yards compared to the Bucs’ 236 rushing yards and 62 passing yards.

USC ran 59 plays compared to 30 for BEA.

Both teams were penalized three times. The Bucs’ miscues cost them 30 yards while the Rebels’ penalties totaled 40 yards.

Individually, Juba accounted for 290 yards of BEA’s offensive output. He completed two of six passes for 62 yards and rushed the ball 19 times for 228 yards and scored four touchdowns.Weerts caught both of Juba’s completions, the longest going for 33 yards.

Gonzalez led the Rebels’ rushing attack with nine attempts for 109 yards. Getchell also went over the century mark rushing with 103 yards on 17 carries. Josey Schroeder had seven carries for 60 yards and Peterson rushed the ball 13 times for 55 yards and one touchdown.

USC quarterback Jace Ignaszewski attempted six passes and completed three for a net of 21 yards.

The Bucs played host to Luverne on Sept. 3 and will travel to Hayfield on Sept. 11 to battle Blooming Prairie/Hayfield.

Next up for the Rebels was a Sept. 4 game at Cleveland. They will also be on the road the following week when they face the Panthers of Tracy-Milroy-Balaton on Sept. 11.

Look for coverage of those games in upcoming issues of the Faribault County Register.