LAKE CRYSTAL &045; Last year the United South Central Rebels were unbeatable in the regular season, winning the Gopher Valley Conference football championship and earning the top seed in their section.

They picked up where they left off.

The Rebels rolled to a 35-14 victory over Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial in their season opener at Lake Crystal Friday night.

&uot;We started out slow,&uot; said coach Brent Schimek. &uot;We were a little rusty in the first quarter. Our first unit played well in the second and third quarters.&uot;

With a 35-0 lead in the third quarter, Schimek sent in his reserves.

The only score in the first quarter came on a 4-yard run by Shea Kaiser. The PAT kick was blocked.

Quarterback Brandon Haugh ran 7 yards for a second-quarter touchdown, also running for the conversion, and Callen Pitcher scored on a 3-yard run just before halftime. Nate Steckelberg’s PAT kick made it 21-0.

Haugh scored on a pair of 1-yard runs in the third quarter.

The Wildcats scored twice in the fourth, when they gained 143 of their 215 passing yards.

Haugh finished 6-for-12 for 150 yards and no interceptions for the Rebels. Jon Voigt caught two passes for 78 yards, Pitcher two for 46, Steckelberg two for 26.

Pitcher was the leading rusher with 58 yards on 20 carries. Joel Robinson carried nine times for 40 yards.

The Rebels held LCWM to 35 rushing yards. Kaiser led the defense with six tackles. Trent Leesch had an interception. Robinson and Ben Herman each recovered a fumble.

The Rebels host Maple River this Friday.