The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva football team trailed the Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop Thunderbirds 14-0 in the first quarter but rallied with 24 unanswered point en route to a 24-22 victory.

“We desperately needed this win after dropping our last three games to build some confidence going into the payoffs,” NRHEG head coach Dan Stork said.

In the second quarter, the Panthers’ Geoff Ramaker scored on a four-yard touchdown run, and Sam Lundberg passed to Evan Ferber for a two-yard touchdown to pull within 14-12.

Ramaker scored on a 29-yard run in the third quarter to put the Panthers ahead 18-14, and Lundberg passed to David Lassahn in the fourth quarter for a 15-yard touchdown.

Ramaker finished with 148 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries, and Lundberg finished 10-of-16 passing for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Lassahn led all Panthers receivers with 62 yards on four receptions.

Dustin Esplan led NRHEG’s defense with 10 tackles and a sack. Ramaker and Lundberg also recorded 10 tackles a piece.