MOVING ON TO STATE: REBELS ARE SECTION 3A CHAMPS

The MCC Rebels played for the Section 3A title on Friday afternoon in Marshall. The Rebels had a rematch with the Tracy Milroy Balaton Panthers. The two teams played earlier this season and the Rebels picked up the win in Tracy 33- 22. The two teams would play a much more defensive minded game than the first meeting. The weather played a huge factor in the game with the winds blowing down the middle of the field at 20-25 mph with gusts over 35 mph. The strong winds limited offensive play calling in one direction and it played a huge factor in special teams. The Panthers search for revenge would come up short Friday as the Rebels undefeated season would continue.

The first quarter was crazy as the first two possessions the teams sort of felt each other out. The Rebels had a costly fumble that was recovered by the Panthers but the MCC defense was strong and the game remained scoreless until late in the quarter. MCC put together a great drive which started on a short punt by the Panthers and MCC would drive for the score led by Carter Benda and a key catch by Chant Mitchell. Abe Paulzine would score the touchdown with 16.7 seconds left in the quarter and Mason Wendland would make the extra point to make the score 7-0. The Rebels would kick it back to the Panthers and their drive would last one play. Ayden Horner would outrun the Rebels defense to the sideline and then cut up the field for 68 yards and a touchdown and Caden Johnson would add the two point conversion and after one quarter of play the Panthers led 8-7.

The teams began to separate themselves in the second quarter as the Rebels locked down the Panthers offense who even with the wind only completed one pass a 35 yarder to Christian Wendland but the Rebels shut down the drive. MCC on the other hand drove into the wind but MCC’s Carter Benda was picking up chunks of yards down to the 23 yard line. MCC was pushed back facing a 3rd and long and Abe Paulzine would throw a screen pass into the wind to Chant Mitchell who had a couple blockers in front who cleared the way for a second touchdown and the two point conversion by Christian Kubal put the Rebels ahead 15-8. MCC would take that lead to the half.

The second half was filled with turnovers by both teams. MCC had two turnovers in the first half already but in the second half MCC would have three more. The Panthers would also struggle with turnovers giving the ball up 4 times. The Rebels would score the only points of the second half with just under nine minutes to play in the 4th quarter. Paulzine would score on a one yard run and Carter Benda would get the two point conversion to put the Rebels ahead 23-8. Though it wasn’t the cleanest of endings due to the turnovers MCC would not be threatened over the final eight minutes of the game. The Rebels would win to advance to the state tournament 23-8.

The Rebels would outgain the Panthers 273-216 yards. TMB would get half of their total yards on two plays. The Rebels would out pass the Panthers 42-35 and would out gain them on the ground 231-181. The Panthers committed 6 penalties for 60 yards while the Rebels committed 3 for 25. Carter Benda led the Rebels with 37 carries for 209 yards. Chant Mitchell caught 3 passes for 42 yards and a touchdown. Abe Paulzine would run 10 times for 23 yards but two touchdowns. Ayden Horner ran 22 times for 103 yards. The Rebels advance to the state quarterfinals on Friday night when they will play the Mayer Lutheran Crusaders in Jordan Minnesota. The winner will move on to US Bank Stadium and a semi final birth in the Class A state tournament.