United South Central kept its aspirations of a Gopher Valley AA conference title alive Friday with a 20-19 victory over sixth-ranked Waterville-Elysian-Morristown in Wells on homecoming.

The Rebels (4-1, 3-1 Gopher Valley AA) stopped the Buccaneers (4-1, 3-1 Gopher Valley AA) on a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter with 1 minute, 4 seconds left in the game for USC’s biggest win of the season.

“One of of the best high school football games played in recent years, with the way it was condition-wise,” said Rebels head coach Brad Huse.

USC quarterback Riley Swearingen rushed for 91 yards and threw for 56, including a 14-yard pass to Kyle Bauman in the second quarter. After a two-point conversion the Rebels took an 8-7 lead into halftime.

In the third quarter William Huper scooped up a Waterville-Elysian-Morristown fumble and ran it back for USC to stake the Rebels to a 14-7 lead.

The Bucs responded later in the third when Zach Geyer scored from 11 yards out, but a two-point conversion failed and USC hung on to a 14-13 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Tyson Morton’s 8-yard touchdown run put the Rebels up 20-13, but Waterville-Elysian-Morristown made it interesting when Reid Roemhildt scored from 9 yards out with 1:04 left in the game.

USC 20, WEM 19

USC 0 8 6 6 — 20

WEM 7 0 6 6 — 19

First Quarter

WEM—Hering 12 pass Masberg (kick good).

Second Quarter

USC—Bauman 14 pass from Swearingen (conversion good).

Third Quarter

USC—Huper fumble recovery (conversion failed)

WEM—Geyer 11 run (conversion failed)

Fourth Quarter

USC— Morton 8 run (conversion failed)

WEM—Roemhildt 9 run (conversion failed)

USC WEM

First Downs na na

Total Net Yards 202 231

Rushes-Yards 45-146 36-158 Passing 56 73

Punt Returns 0-0 5-12

Kickoff Returns 3-39 2-37

Interceptions-Ret. 1-0 0-0

Comp-Att-Int 5-11-0 7-23-1

Sacked-Yards Lost 0-0 0-0

Punts 5-25 5-19

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0

Penalties-Yards 7-60 4-20

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—USC, Morton 19-40, Swearingen 16-91, Wood 9-17.

PASSING—USC,Riley Swearingen 5-11-0-56

RECEIVING _ USC, Bauman 2-29, Wigern 1-20, Tyson Morton 1-5, Lackey 1-2.