By John George
Upsala-Swanville Area was in total control from the opening kick Thursday night at Smith Field in New York Mills. The Patriots scored on their first two possessions and cruised to a 42-0 win over the Eagles in the season opener for both teams.
USA?quarterback Luke Johnson, the team's offensive M.V.P. last season, capped the Patriots' opening drive with a 14-yard touchdown run. It was the first of three TD's for Johnson as he finished with 203 yards rushing on 21 carries.
Johnson was only 1-for-2 throwing with an interception, but he didn't need to throw as USA racked up 359 yards on the ground.
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The Eagles offense never did get going, as they managed just 88 yards rushing and 109 yards of total offense. Mike Baune and Jordan Novak each had 33 yards rushing on eight carries. Baune went 3-for-15 passing for 21 yards.
Last year, New York Mills beat USA, 21-13, for their only win of the season. The Patriots went on to finish 2-7 overall, but returned 25 letter-winners this season
Pillager
Mills will look to get in the win column this Friday as they host Pillager at Smith Field. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Huskies beat New York Mills in Pillager last year, 27-9 They were 3-7 overall last year, 1-3 Prairie North.
In their opening game, Pillager lost to No. 1-A?Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sundberg, 35-0. Quarterback Justin Ringler threw for 92 yards on 10-for-20 passing and ran for 11 yards. The Huskies had just 38 yards rushing as a team and 130 yards of total offense.
Thursday, August 28
Upsala-Swanville Area 42, NYM 0
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USA 14-7-13-8--42
NYM 0- 0- 0- 0--0
First Quarter
USA--Johnson 14 run (Ripplinger kick)
USA--Johnson 65 run (Ripplinger kick)
Second Quarter
USA--Gutormson 4 run (Ripplinger kick)
Third Quarter
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USA--Barthel 11 run (Voss kick)
USA--Johnson 9 run (pass failed)
Fourth Quarter
USA--Voss 35 run (Johnson run)
NYM USA
1st Downs 00 0
Rush--yds 26-88 52-356
Pass yds 21 3
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Return yds 124 63
Comp--Att-In 3-15-1 1-2-1
Fbles-lost 3-1 7-2
Pen-yds 4-25 6-40
Individual Statistics
Rushing--Jordan Novak 8-33; Erik Tumberg 10-17; Mike Baune 8-33; Tyler Pruess 1-1' Ryan Lee 1-4
Passing--Baune 3-15-1 21 yds.
Receiving--Novak 2-11; Dylan Curtis 1-10
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Defense--Novak 13 tkl, 1 Fum Rec; Eric Wallgren 12 tkl; Jarrod Norton 10 tkl; Zach Umland 10 tkl; Collin Ness 1 tkl, Int; Landyn Saewert 3 tkl, 1 Fum Rec.
Prairie Conference
North Conf. All
OTC 0-0 1-0
UNC 0-0 0-1
Parkers Prairie 0-0 0-1
Pillager 0-0 0-1
New York Mills 0-0 0-1
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South Conf. All
#1-A K-M-S 0-0 1-0
#8-A Royalton 0-0 1-0
Upsala/Swanville 0-0 1-0
Browerville 0-0 1-0
Osakis 0-0 0-1
