Photo by Sam Thiel TMB’s Ayden Horner looks upfield as he carries the ball during their game against LQPV on Friday. TMB defeated LQPV 38-13.

TRACY — The Tracy-Milroy-Balaton football team looked to start its season in style at home against Lac qui Parle Valley on Friday. With an explosive offensive outing led by Ayden Horner on the ground, the Panthers cruised to a 38-13 victory over the Eagles.

TMB had a chance to get on the board right away on its opening drive, as a huge run by Horner and a pass from Noah Swenhaugen to Matt Munson brought the Panthers all the way down to the Eagles’ 14-yard line but weren’t able to capitalize and turned it over on downs. But that would be one of the only blemishes on TMB’s side the rest of the way, as the Panthers got the ball back near midfield on their next possession and this time found the end zone, with Horner scoring from five yards out to make it 7-0 with 5:55 left in the first quarter.

The Eagles wouldn’t go down without a fight, though, getting into TMB’s red zone before a 19-yard run tied things up at 7-7 with 3:23 left in the frame. But the Panthers would control the tempo the remainder of the game, as another short run by Horner gave TMB the lead back at 13-7 after the first quarter.

The second quarter was all TMB, this time with the defense coming up with a highlight, as Travis Willhite recovered a fumble at midfield. Two plays later, the Panthers were in the end zone again, as Swenhaugen connected with Horner through the air for a 28-yard score to make it 19-7 with 10:26 left in the half. After a quick three-and-out by LPQV, TMB struck again, marching from its own 21 into the Eagles’ red zone before a short pass from Swenhaugen to Christian Wendland pushed the advantage to 26-7 with 4:42 left in the frame. The Panthers weren’t done there, with Caden Johnson recovering another fumble on the defensive end that led to a Horner touchdown run, his third on the ground and fourth overall in the first half, to make it 32-7 at halftime.

Neither team could find scoring in the third quarter, before TMB got a 10-yard touchdown run by Horner in the fourth. LQPV also found the end zone in the quarter, but couldn’t get any closer en route to the 38-13 final.

Horner led TMB with 202 rushing yards on 12 carries and four touchdowns while adding 33 receiving yards on three catches and another score. Swenhaugen completed 13 of his 22 pass attempts for 148 yards and two touchdowns while Wendland led in receiving with 86 yards on five catches and a score.

Defensively, Johnson led TMB with 7.5 total tackles, including two solo, while Caden Anderson added five total tackles.

Up next

TMB (1-0) will face Adrian on the road next Friday at 7 p.m.

TMB 38, LQPV 13

LQPV 7 0 0 6 – 13

TMB 13 19 0 6 – 38

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

TMB: Horner 5 yd run (Ankrum kick).

LQPV: Mortenson 19 yd run (Wittnebel kick).

TMB: Horner 4 yd run (Kick no good).

Second Quarter

TMB: Horner 28 yd pass from Swenhaugen (Kick no good).

TMB: Wendland 2 yd pass from Swenhaugen (Ankrum kick).

TMB: Horner 10 yd run (Kick no good).

Third Quarter

No scoring.

Fourth Quarter

TMB: Horner 10 yd run (Kick no good).

LQPV: Mortenson 19 yd run (Kick no good).

Individual statistics

Passing (Comp-Att-Yds-TD): TMB (Swenhaugen 13-22-148-2).

Rushing (Att-Yds-TD): TMB (Horner 12-202-4; Anderson 10-50).

Receiving (Rec-Yds-TD): TMB (Wendland 5-86-1; Horner 3-33-1; Munson 5-29-0).

Defense (Tackles): TMB (Johnson 7.5; Anderson 5).