Jacob Swart
MCC Homecoming festivities wrapped up on Friday night with the football game against the Lac Qui Parle Valley Eagles, with an MCC win.
Before the game, the Rebels cross country runners carried the football to Slayton from the LQPV football field in a trek that covered over 70 miles, completing a tradition that began in 1984.
A year ago, the Rebels beat an injury-riddled Eagles team 64-6. This year the Eagles have been healthy and playing well with a 3-2 record. MCC, coming off their first victory of the season, were looking for a win. The Rebels would complete homecoming with some style.
The game did not get off to the best start for the Rebels. MCC attempted an onside kick to begin the game, and though the Rebels recovered the kick, it didn’t travel 10 yards. That gave the ball to the Eagles near midfield.
The Eagles following drive included a bad pitch and a penalty, but with a couple of big fourth down conversions the Eagles scored the first points of the game. Jace Daline scored on a 1-yard run and Gavin Mortenson added the 2-point conversion to make the score 8-0 with 5:53 to play in the first quarter. It would be the last points the Eagles would score in this game as the Rebels took over.
The Rebels followed the LQPV drive with an 83-yard drive of their own. Caleb Rosenbrook and Brayden Gilb led the Rebels, running to the perimeter of the defense. MCC got to the 22-yard line in Eagles territory when Carson Lewis would run through the defense for his first score of the day. Max Mathiason would find Brayden Gilb with a pass for the 2-point conversion to tie the game.
The Rebels flipped a switch in the second quarter as they forced the Eagles into a punt. Brayden Gilb caught a 32-yard pass from Finn Schneider to setup his own 19-yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter.
The Rebels took their first lead 14 to 8. Max Mathiason got an interception in the second stanza as the Rebels extended their lead. Finn Schneider would fake out just about everyone on the field and in the stands, scoring on a 27yard run with most looking the wrong direction and the Rebels led 20 to 8. MCC wasn’t done yet as Lewis scored again on a 1-yard run. Eskil Olivarius - an exchange student - kicked the extra point to make the score 27 to 8 going to halftime.
The second half saw a pair of long drives that ate up the third quarter clock without either team scoring, but the Rebels added a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Carson Lewis scored his third touchdown of the game in a 21yard run with over five minutes to go. Parker Olson added 6 points on a 7-yard run with all the reserves in the game late. MCC finished the game with a 39 to 8 win.
The Rebels dominated statistically, forcing three turnovers in the game and more than doubling the yardage total of the Eagles. MCC was led by Lewis who ran for 178 yards and 3 touchdowns. Brayden Gilb ran for 91 yards and caught one pass for 32 yards. Caleb Rosenbrook, who blocked so well in the first half, finished with 49 yards on the ground. Finn Schneider ran for 33 yards and a touchdown.
MCC is now 2-3 with their final home game of the regular season coming up Friday night. The Rebels will host their rival the TMB Panthers in a huge section 3A game.
Congratulations, Rebels!
