The Eagles remained winless in Prairie North Conference standings after a comeback from an 18-0 deficit fell short Friday night. The Panthers hung on to prevail 18-13, but not before withstanding a fourth-quarter flurry from NY Mills.
"I was happy with the way we came back in the fourth quarter," said Head Coach Matt Radniecki. "We didn't give up and lay down but we kept fighting and working hard."
The Eagles' offense was kept at bay and on the sidelines for most of the first half. NY Mills was kept from a first down until just over two minutes remained in the first half on a Charlie Peeters' fourth down four-yard run near midfield.
That would be the only first down of the first half for the visitors.
Meanwhile, the Panthers were moving the ball like they were running downhill, but the Eagle defense stiffened in the red zone keeping Parkers Prairie off the scoreboard for a period and a half.
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Parkers would get on the board twice in the waning minutes of the first half scoring on a nine-yard pass from Trey Thompson to Seth Bercier and a Ryan Peppersack eight-yard run. Both extra points were missed wide left to make the score 12-0 at the half.
"The game is many times won on big plays and Parkers had three completions that were big plays made by the receiver and quarterback."
The Panthers also made big plays on defense causing a fumble on the goal line to negate a NY Mills drive that ate up all but a few seconds of the third quarter.
NY Mills took the second half kickoff to their own 40 and looked poised to march into the Panther's side of the field but Thompson would step in front of a Peeters' pass and return it 54 yards for the score and an 18-0 lead.
Combine the pick six with the goal line stand and turnover at the end of the third quarter; things were not looking up for the Eagles.
"We had some big plays made in the fourth quarter but we also missed some opportunities."
The Eagles morphed into a different team in the fourth quarter. Peeters hooked up with Imsande on a 56-yard bomb taking the ball into the red zone. Peeters would score after being forced from the pocket on 15-yard scamper for six. Brandon Kupfer's extra point was no good.
The special teams made a huge recovery on the ensuing onside kick as the ball bobbled to the 27-yard line of the Panthers before popping into Eagle hands.
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Five plays later, Peeters would hit Imsande in the end zone from 14 yards out. Kupfer's kick cut the lead to five points where it would stay.
A second onsides kick up the middle of the field bounced right into the waiting hands of the Panther kick return team and the offense lined up in victory formation to ice the game away and run out the remaining time.
"We struggled running the ball again but our passing came alive with Charlie Peeters making some nice completions in the fourth quarter. We are not an explosive offense and we need to not make turnovers to have success. I was very proud with how we came back and played with some heart and fire in the second half of this game. We need to take that into Browerville this Friday night."
NY Mills/Parkers Prairie Statistics
NYM Parkers
1st Downs 7 12
Yds - Rushing 30-66 yds 1 TD 40-140 yds 1 TD
Yds - Passing 10-21-113 yds 2 int 1 TD 7-12-121 yds 1 TD
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Turnovers 3 0
Penalities 3-30 yds 7-65 yds
Total yards 179 yds 261 yds
Individual stats-Ty Bell had 10 tackles and Tyler Patron had 9 tackles.....
Spencer Imsande had 3 receptions for 81 yds and 1 TD
Charlie Peeters had 1 TD run.....
