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Eagle Valley explodes in second half

By Taylor Lunemann, Long Prairie Leader, 10/21/11, 2:03PM CDT

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The Rebels scored 40 points in the second half to go 8-0, first time since 2000


John Wood went from the guard to fullback position for a few plays due to an injury, he scored his first touchdown of the year. Photo by Taylor Lunemann


The Rebels celebrate as a team after finishing the season undefeated. Photo by Taylor Lunemann

The Eagle Valley football team finished off its regular season Wednesday, Oct. 19, in Parkers Prairie.

The undefeated Rebels exploded for 42 points to defeat the Panthers 62-10.

Jacob Schauer and Derek Meyer combined for about 350 yards rushing and scored four touchdowns to lead the Rebels.

Tyler Oftedahl set another Rebel record as he threw his 11th and 12th touchdown passes of the season. He also threw for more than 200 yards for the second game in a row.

After recovering a Panthers fumble at the seven yard line, Schauer – with some blocking up front – ran it in from seven yards out. The two point attempt failed giving the Rebels a 6-0 lead.

With 15 seconds left in the first, the Rebels allowed a safety when a snap sailed over the punter’s head and went out the back of the end zone resulting. This gave the Panthers two points and the ball.

After the Rebels’ defense stopped the Panthers, Meyer was able to find some running room as he scampered 31 yards for a touchdown. Oftedahl hit Tyson Eckel for the two point conversion to make it 14-2.

At the 3:50 mark in the second quarter, Oftedahl hit Tate Benning for a three-yard touchdown strike. Oftedahl and Benning then hooked up for the two point conversion to make it a score of 22-2 at halftime.

The Panthers came out of halftime very inspired.

They picked off a pass on the first play of the half. They then used three plays to cover 26 yards, ending with an 11-yard touchdown by junior running back Tyler Schlosser. Schlosser also punched in the two point conversion to make it 22-10.

“The touchdown seemed to light a fire under the Rebels,” head coach John Sieling said.

On the second play of the next drive, Schauer broke a 50-yard run. He also finished off the drive with a six-yard touchdown run and the two point conversion, which made the score 30-10.

After a quick stop by the defense, Blake Borst, who moved from guard to fullback due to an injury to Luke Mock, scored from one yard out. Meyer added the two point run to make it 38-10.

Late in the third quarter, Schauer fumbled the ball at the Rebels 41 and Panthers’ linebacker Aaron Koep recovered it. On the next play, John Wood forced a Panthers fumble and Eckel quickly jumped on it.

The Rebels went to the air as Oftedahl hit Eckel over the middle for his second passing touchdown of the game. Wood ran in the two point conversion to make it 46-10.

The Panthers’ struggled with keeping the ball in their hands allowing Meyer to recover another fumble.

15 seconds into the fourth quarter, Wood scored on a two-yard touchdown run for his first touchdown of the season. The two point conversion from Logan Reidel to Taylor Bailey was good, bringing the score to 54-10.

Late in the fourth quarter, Meyer was a workhorse on another Rebels’ drive, carrying the ball five times and scoring from 14 yards out. Reidel hit Eckel for the two point conversion, ending the scoring for the night at 62-10.

Reidel came up with an interception to end the game.

The Rebels tallied 594 yards of total offense, while limiting the Panthers to fewer than 125 yards.

With Mock unable to play, Denver Kortuem saw quite a bit of action at center. This allowed Borst and Wood, who normally play on the line, to see some looks at the fullback position.

“Because we only have about 14 players who see time on the field, everyone has to know every position and get reps there,” Borst said. “We need to be in the best shape we can, because you play and don’t stop, there’s really no one to sub for you.”

Schauer had 21 carries for 179 yards while Meyer picked up 164 yards on 20 carries. Oftedahl was 13/15 passing for 206 yards. Reidel was his top receiver catching five passes for 72 yards. Eckel had four catches for 97 yards and a touchdown.

The defense dominated most of the game. Linebackers Wood and Borst each had 20 tackles on the night. Wood also had a quarterback sack and Borst recovered two fumbles.

“I think the kids played well and deserve this,” Sieling said. “This is the best second half performance we’ve had this year.”

The Rebels start section play on Tuesday against the Bertha-Hewitt Bears.

The winner of Tuesaday's game will face the winner of the Ashby-Isle match-up Saturday. 

“I told the kids if they lose they go home,” Sieling said. “It’s high school football and anything can happen."

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