REBELS WIN HOMECOMING GAME

Homecoming 2022 came to an end on Friday night with the football game followed by the Dance and BonFire. The Rebels welcomed the Indians of Sleepy Eye Public High School as this year’s opponent. The MCC/F cross country team ran the football from Sleepy Eye’s home field to Slayton. The Rebels were looking to win the game that would complete a very productive week for MCC sports. The Rebels would win their fourth game of the season heading into the tough final three games of the year.

The first quarter would fly by as the the two teams exchanged time consuming drives. The Indians began the game with the ball and they would pick up two first downs driving inside the Rebel 25 yard line before Caden Evers would throw an interception to Andrew Holm of the Rebels at the 5 yard line. The Rebels would then drive into Indian territory before the drive would bog down and the Rebels would turn it over on downs. The two drives ate up most of the first quarter clock and for the Indians it was their best and only shot to score in the first half. Sleep Eye would not pick up another first down the rest of the half.

The Rebels would dominate the second quarter scoring three touchdowns on three consecutive drives. The first score would come on a Abe Paulzine 17 yard touchdown run but the Rebels would miss the two point conversion to take a 6-0 lead. After Sleepy Eye went three and out the Rebels got the ball back and it would be Paulzine throwing a pass to Tanner Graphenteen for a 17 yard touchdown followed by a two point conversion to make the score 14-0 with 4:23 to play in the half. The Rebels would score again late in the second quarter on a Ross Engelkes 9 yard touchdown run. The extra point by Mason Wendland made the score 21-0. The end of the half would get a bit crazy as each quarterback would throw interceptions in the final minute Austin Uecker would intercept Abe Paulzine and Tanner Graphenteen would pick off Caden Evers. The score at halftime was MCC 21 Sleepy Eye 0.

The second half was a defensive chess match and the Rebels offense moved the ball but struggled with some penalties and the Sleepy Eye offense struggled to move the ball and would turn the ball over two more times. The only points in the entire second half came from Abe Paulzine throwing his second touchdown pass of the game to Christian Tentinger covering one yard. The Rebels defense refused to allow points and MCC got the win 27-0.

With the Rebels facing a tough final three games of the season it was a huge win for the Rebels. Ross Engelkes had another big day at running back, rushing 28 times for 172 yards while catching three passes for 43 yards. He scored 1 touchdown in the game. Abe Paulzone ran for 64 yards and a touchdown but he also completed 13 passes for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns. Christian Tentinger led the pass catchers with 6 receptions for 71 yards and a score. Tanner Graphenteen caught two passes for 26 yards and a score. On defense Andrew Holm had an interception plus a fumble recovery. Graphenteen had an interception and Carson Engelkes picked up a fumble in the Rebels win. MCC is heading on the road next Friday to take on Martin County West who is 5-0 this season compared to the Rebels 4-1.