WELLS — On a muddy, wet field, sometimes defense is the greatest offense. That was the case Friday as New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva beat United South Central 18-15 in a turnover-ridden game.

Leading 15-12 late in the third quarter and set to receive a punt, the ball bounced and hit the back leg of USC’s (0-2) Bryan Simonson and the Panthers (2-0) recovered the live ball at the Rebels 27-yard line.

After an incomplete pass, Panthers’ quarterback Sam Lundberg connected with David Lassahn for 13 yards, setting up a first-and-10 at the 14. Lundberg was then sacked for a three-yard loss and threw an interception to the Rebels’ Dustin Dylla at the one-yard line.

Backed up near their own goal line , USC looked to take care of the football and not lose yards for a Panthers’ safety.

They could only do one of those things.

After two runs up the middle for two yards, the Rebels fumbled at the Panthers’ two-yard line, giving NRHEG four chances to take the lead from six feet out. The Panthers needed only one, as Geoff Ramaker ran the ball into the end zone on the first play of the drive, putting NRHEG up for good 18-15.

“It’s a huge win for us,” NRHEG head coach Dan Stork said. “Ever since 2007, USC has kind of been a thorn in my side after they knocked us off (the section playoffs) when we were the No. 1 seed and they were the No. 8 seed. We always get up for this game.”

But the game wasn’t pretty for either teams.

USC went three-and-out to open the game, giving NRHEG great field position at their own 46-yard line to start their first drive.

Ramaker gained seven yards on third-and-six, converting the Panthers’ first third down, and facing fourth-and-three on USC’s 35-yard line, Lundberg hit Lassahn for six yards and a second first down.

After Lundberg was sacked for six yards the following play, Ramaker rushed the ball to the left side of the field and scored on a 35-yard touchdown run. After a missed extra point, the Panthers led 6-0.

USC responded by scoring on their next drive, moving the ball 65 yards, most which came on a 41-yard reception by Kyle Bauman.

Lackey rushed the ball from a yard out to knot the game at six, and a two-point conversion put the Rebels up 8-6 with 2 minutes and 38 seconds left in the first quarter.

Then the game got sloppy.

Early in the second quarter, USC fumbled the ball, but recovered it, and nearly threw an interception before losing a fumble on NRHEG’s 25-yard line with 5 minutes to play in the half.

The Panthers needed just one play to score, when Lundberg connected with Chad Schlaak to take a 12-8 lead to halftime.

The teams exchanged punts three times to open the second half, before USC got the half’s first 1st down eight minutes into the third quarter.

Three plays later, Tyson Morton scored on a two-yard rush to put the Rebels back up 15-12.

After falling behind again, the Rebels final drive began with just over a minute left in the game at their own 26-yard line but ended with an interception on the first play.

NRHEG wins 18-15 in low yardage game

WELLS — On a muddy, wet field, sometimes defense is the greatest offense. That was the case Friday as New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva beat United South Central 18-15 in a turnover-ridden game.

Leading 15-12 late in the third quarter and set to receive a punt, the ball bounced and hit the back leg of USC’s (0-2) Bryan Simonson and the Panthers (2-0) recovered the live ball at the Rebels 27-yard line.

After an incomplete pass, Panthers’ quarterback Sam Lundberg connected with David Lassahn for 13 yards, setting up a first-and-10 at the 14. Lundberg was then sacked for a three-yard loss and threw an interception to the Rebels’ Dustin Dylla at the one-yard line.

Backed up near their own goal line , USC looked to take care of the football and not lose yards for a Panthers’ safety.

They could only do one of those things.

After two runs up the middle for two yards, the Rebels fumbled at the Panthers’ two-yard line, giving NRHEG four chances to take the lead from six feet out. The Panthers needed only one, as Geoff Ramaker ran the ball into the end zone on the first play of the drive, putting NRHEG up for good 18-15.

“It’s a huge win for us,” NRHEG head coach Dan Stork said. “Ever since 2007, USC has kind of been a thorn in my side after they knocked us off (the section playoffs) when we were the No. 1 seed and they were the No. 8 seed. We always get up for this game.”

But the game wasn’t pretty for either teams.

USC went three-and-out to open the game, giving NRHEG great field position at their own 46-yard line to start their first drive.

Ramaker gained seven yards on third-and-six, converting the Panthers’ first third down, and facing fourth-and-three on USC’s 35-yard line, Lundberg hit Lassahn for six yards and a second first down.

After Lundberg was sacked for six yards the following play, Ramaker rushed the ball to the left side of the field and scored on a 35-yard touchdown run. After a missed extra point, the Panthers led 6-0.

USC responded by scoring on their next drive, moving the ball 65 yards, most which came on a 41-yard reception by Kyle Bauman.

Lackey rushed the ball from a yard out to knot the game at six, and a two-point conversion put the Rebels up 8-6 with 2 minutes and 38 seconds left in the first quarter.

Then the game got sloppy.

Early in the second quarter, USC fumbled the ball, but recovered it, and nearly threw an interception before losing a fumble on NRHEG’s 25-yard line with 5 minutes to play in the half.

The Panthers needed just one play to score, when Lundberg connected with Chad Schlaak to take a 12-8 lead to halftime.

The teams exchanged punts three times to open the second half, before USC got the half’s first 1st down eight minutes into the third quarter.

Three plays later, Tyson Morton scored on a two-yard rush to put the Rebels back up 15-12.

After falling behind again, the Rebels final drive began with just over a minute left in the game at their own 26-yard line but ended with an interception on the first play.