Photo by Brennen Rupp MCC’s Blake Schmitz drops back to pass during their game against New Ulm Cathedral on Saturday. The Rebels fell to the Greyhounds 19-6.

NEW ULM – The seventh ranked Murray County Central Rebels found it to be tough sledding against New Ulm Cathedral’s defense on Saturday. The Greyhounds contained MCC’s offense and did enough offensively to defeat the Rebels, 19-6.

The first half was a defensive struggle, with neither team able to build any momentum on the offensive side of the ball.

With three minutes gone by in the second quarter NUC broke through on a passing touchdown to take a 6-0 lead.

Deep into the second quarter an MCC drive stalled out at NUC’s 38-yard line. Following the turnover on downs the Greyhounds marched down the field and scored on a rushing touchdown to take a 12-0 lead with 1:11 left in the first half.

It appeared the two teams would go into the locker room with NUC holding a 12-0 lead. With 40 seconds left the Rebels coughed up the ball at the 23-yard line. With 12 seconds left in the first half the Greyhounds cashed in the MCC turnover for six to take a 19-0 into the locker room.

“It’s a game changer,” MCC coach Patrick Freeman said. “There were too many mistakes today. Whether it was running the wrong route, penalties or the fumble. You just can’t have those when you’re playing against a good football team.”

NUC started the second half with the football with a chance to put the game away on the opening drive. MCC’s defense rose to the occasion and forced a three and out.

Following the three and out Ethan Swanson broke off a big run for the Rebels to set up MCC inside NUC’s 20-yard line. On fourth and goal, Blake Schmitz connected with Justin Benda to get the Rebels on the board to cut NUC’s lead to 19-6.

Unfortunately for the Rebel faithful that made the trip to New Ulm, the passing touchdown would be the only points the Rebels could manufacture in the second half. Despite the loss, Freeman was pleased with how the defense played in the second half.

“The defense came out in the second half and kept them off the scoreboard,” Freeman said. “I thought they were much more physical. We need that throughout the whole game. It was a good second half, but we need that for the whole game.”

Freeman said his team was much more composed in the second half.

“It was more about effort,” Freeman said. “I think the guys get down on themselves too much when they make a mistake. We calmed down at the half and ran our stuff. It was a much more composed team in the second half. If we can put a complete game together we are a dangerous football team. One half isn’t going to do it.”

The loss was MCC’s first of the year and they are now 3-1 overall. They’ll look to bounce back this week when they hit the road to take on the Dawson-Boyd Blackjacks.

“I want to see how we respond,” Freeman said. “We are going to play a tough Dawson-Boyd team. It’s going to be a very physical, big team. Hopefully we will be up for the challenge.”

NUC 19, MCC 6

MCC 0 0 6 0 – 6

NUC 0 19 0 0 – 19

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

No scoring

Second Quarter

NUC: Gillis 21 yd pass from Seidl (Kick failed)

NUC: Braulick 15 yd run (Kick failed)

NUC: Braulick 3 yd run (Kick good)

Third Quarter

MCC: Benda 9 yd pass from Schmitz (Kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

No scoring

Individual Statistics

Passing (comp-att-yds-td-int): MCC (Schmitz 4-15-65-0-2).

Rushing (att-yds-td): MCC (Swanson 11-65-0; Aanenson 14-51-0; Benda 3-20-0).

Receiving (rec-tds-td): MCC (Benda 2-52-1).