PANTHERS BEAT REBELS IN SECTION 3A SEMIFINALS

The MCC Rebels advanced to the Section 3A semifinals to play the Tracy Milroy Balaton Panthers. The Rebels lost earlier this season to the Panthers in Slayton. MCC was looking to avenge one of their two losses this season but to do that the fourth seeded Rebels would have to go to Tracy to play the top seeded Panthers. The Panthers have had a terrific season with a dominant defense and an offense that can score in a variety of ways led by a big physical frontline. This game would be a defensive battle with both teams having chances to win the game but in the end the top seed would move on.

The first half of this game was a defensive chess match with neither team allowing points. Both teams had terrific game plans and carried them out very well. The offenses might pick up some yards and get a first down or even two but the defenses would lock down and force a punt or turnover on downs and in the end the game would be tied 0-0 at halftime.

The game really picked up in the third quarter right from the kickoff. The Panthers kicked a short high kick that the Rebels could not catch and in the end Noah Knakmuhs was able to recover the loose ball for the first turnover of the game. The Panthers had momentum and they would drive down the field in just a couple of plays. Caden Anderson would have a 23 yard run to get the ball to the 4 yard line. Anderson would get a handoff and as he got to the endzone the ball would be knocked loose and recovered by Christian Tentinger in the endzone for a touchback. The Rebels had survived.

MCC would pick up a couple of first downs of their own getting into the Panthers territory but the Rebels drive would stall and they would be forced to punt. The Abe Paulzine punt would land in the arms and on the shoulder pads of Jeret Ankrum and the ball would bounce up into the air where it was caught by Jackson Sturges at the 20 yard line. The Rebels had picked up their second turnover of the game and they were just 20 yards away from points. The drive didn’t start well for the Rebels as the first as they went backwards two yards. Then MCC would get creative throwing a pass to the right which was caught by the Rebels and then lateralled to Dylan Doeden and the senior center would take the hook and ladder play into the endzone for the first points of the game. MCC led 6-0 but the extra point was missed with 6:07 left in the third. The Rebels would kick the ball to the Panthers would start their next drive at the 30. The Panthers would combine the running of Caden Anderson with some incomplete passes to move the ball down the field without much time coming off the clock. With just one minute and fifty-five seconds coming off the clock the Panthers would get a terrific run from Trevor Smith for a 24 yard touchdown. Smith is a sophomore and he zigged and zagged his way to the game tying touchdown but like the Rebels the two point conversion was no good and the game was 6-6 after three quarters.

In the 4th quarter the Rebels would drive down the field into the wind and would get inside the ten yard line. The Rebels would be stuck with a choice to go for the touchdown with six minutes left but risk not scoring against a very tough Panther defense or try a short field goal. Earlier this week Mason Wendland kicked a 25 yard field goal and this one would be shorter just 20 yards. The snap would be high which threw off the timing of the kick and the ball would be wide left. The Panthers would get the ball at the 20. TMB would drive down the field using some runs and a 27 yard pass to Jeret Ankrum. The Panthers would get to the Rebel 40 yard line and would throw a new formation at the Rebels and Jonathon Erbes would take a handoff from Alexander Shuh and he would run through the Rebel defense for a 40 yard touchdown run. The two point conversion was completed to Carter Campbel to make the score 14-6 with 2:09 to play. The Rebels would have to work fast and MCC would complete passes to Christian Tentinger and Tanner Graphenteen for 13 yards each. The Rebels would get to midfield and Abe Paulzine would throw a short pass to the sideline but it was intercepted by Carter Campbell ending the game. The Panthers got the win 14-6 and advanced to the section championship on Friday.

It was a tough loss for the Rebels because their defense played so well. In the end the Panthers defense was just a little better and the Panther offense came up with one more big play. The Panthers outgained the Rebels 297 yards to 169. The Rebels actually ran 54 plays to the Panthers 50 which shows the strength of the Panthers team. The Rebels threw for 137 yards compared to the Panthers 34. The Panthers out ran the Rebels 263 yards to just 32. Yet first downs were 14 for the Rebels and 13 for the Panthers. Caden Anderson ran for 151 yards while Carter Benda ran for 48. Trevor Smith ran for 68 yards but the Rebel’s Abe Paulzine ran for -23. Eight Rebels played their final high school game on Saturday Tanner Graphenteen, Abe Paulzine, Jaden Deacon, Ashton Kalas, Carter Benda, Mason Wendland, Dylan Doeden, Tate Tromblay, and Jackson Sturges.

The Rebels will clearly need to replace some very good players and leaders heading into next season but the experience they received this season will help as they work in the offseason. The Rebels finish the year with a 7-3 record.