Through five games, the NRHEG football team surpassed last season’s win total and is off to its best start since 2010, when the team started 4-0.

The Panthers (4-1, 4-1 South Central Blue) built a 34-0 lead en route to a 34-19 win Friday at Sibley East (1-4, 1-3 South Central Blue) in Arlington.

“We played well tonight,” said NRHEG coach Dan Stork. “Our line controlled things for three quarters. We jumped out to an early lead and got a little conservative.”

With 7:44 left in the first quarter, the Panthers lit the scoreboard on a three-yard touchdown run by Perry Peterson. Trey Hoppe added two more touchdown runs, and NRHEG led 21-0 at halftime.

Early in the third quarter, Jason Jongbloedt scored on a 33-yard run. He posted a game-high 119 yards on 15 carries.

“Both Jason Jongbloedt and Perry Peterson continue to shine behind the blocks of Zeke Erickson, Jack Schultz, Lucas Herrmann, Jon Weller, Alex Buckmeier, Wyatt Fitterer, Chad Agrimson, Karter Sletten and Trey Hoppe,” Stork said.

The Panthers’ final touchdown was scored on a two-yard touchdown pass from Palmer Peterson to John Cole.

Palmer Peterson was 6-of-15 for 109 yards. NRHEG’s longest pass play was a 51-yard completion from Palmer Peterson to Perry Peterson.

Next, the Panthers will host LeSueur-Henderson (2-3, 2-2 South Central Blue) on Homecoming in New Richland. The Giants are coming off a 26-13 win at Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop after starting the season 1-3.