Panthers defeather eagles

Barbara Lawlor, Nederland. The game began with Quin Kuechenmeister making an 80-yard touchdown run in the first play of the game and it ended with a 40-0 victory for the Nederland High School Panthers, giving them a 6-3 win record for the season.

Saturday was cold and windy, the last home game for the Ned boys and they had a great time running over the Rocky Mountain Lutheran defense. By the end of the third quarter the teams were playing with a running clock.

Kuechenmeister grabbed the inspirational touchdown and Austin O’melia ran it in for the conversion and the score at the end of the first quarter was 8-0.

In the second quarter, Kuechenmeister received a pass from quarterback Jaylan Rasdall and scored again, 14-0. The Eagles pushed for four first downs and were on the Panther 15 yard line when they fumbled the ball. The Panthers picked it up, and a completed pass to Jack Abendroth put them on the 1 yard line. Rasdall ran it in and Kuechenmeister scored the two-point conversion, and it was 22-0 at halftime.

Seniors Austin O’melia, Tucker Carr, Michael Wood, Kellen Sequeira, Jack Abendroth, Jordan Rasdall, Sunil Ghale, Quin Kuechenmeister, Layton Kasch and Aswin Malla were honored during a half-time ceremony.

The Panthers continued to move forward in the third quarter, pushing to the fourth and goal when Michael Wood kicked a field goal for another three points.

Rocky Mountain succeeded in making a couple of first downs but had to punt, and with second and 15, Rasdall completed a pass to Abenroth, who scored again. Rasdall ran the ball into the end zone for the conversion and the score was 33-0.

The Eagles made a valiant effort to move down field but were stopped by an interception by Caleb Pugmire. The Ned boys made good use of the turnover and Abendroth took a pass from Rasdall for his third touchdown. The PAT by Michael Wood was good and the score was 40-0 with one more quarter to go, but the clock was running and the game ended.

Quarter scores:

8-0, 14-0, 18-0, 0-0

Quin Kuechenmeister was named Overall Player of the Game; Jack Abendroth, Offensive Player of the Game, Michael Wood, Defensive Player of the Game, and Tucker Carr, Special Teams Player of the Game.

Coach Aaron Jones told the team that Quin Kuechenmeister had set the tone of the game and the momentum continued. “Defense flat out stopped them.” He told the boys to do anything they did to bring good luck and maybe a berth in the playoffs, but it was not to be. Both Nederland and Gilpin were nudged from the playoffs by a couple of slots.

“But it was a 6-win season, the most I have had here, and it was the best defense I have seen,” says coach Jones.

Individual Statistics:

Passing: Jaylan Rasdall, 10/19 for 293 yards, two touchdowns

Rushing: Jaylan Rasdall, 7 carries for 41 yards and 1 touchdown; Kenny Shankey, 5 carries for 31 yards, Quin Kuechenmeister, 8 carries for 106 yards and 1 touchdown; Austin O’melia, 2 carries for 6 yards and Tucker Carr, 1 carry for 21 yards.

Receiving: Michael Wood, 2 receptions for 10 yards; Jack Abendroth, 6 receptions for 235 yards and 2 touchdowns; Quin Kuechenmeister, 2 receptions for 48 yards and 1 touchdown.

Tackles: Caleb Pugmire, 8 tackles; Michael Wood, 13 tackles; Kenny Shankey, 13 tackles; Trig Cambell, 3 tackles; Jack Abendroth, 4 tackles; Austin O’melia, 15 tackles; Hunter Chilcote, 1 tackle; Sunil Ghale, 1 tackle; Layton Kasch, 6 tackles; Keyghan Otten, 7 tackles; Tucker Carr, 10 tackles.

Sacks: Shankey, 1; O’melia, 5; Otten, 1; Carr, 2.

Interceptions: Pugmire, 1

Kickoffs: Pugmire, 2 for 105 yards; Carr, 5 for 261

Punts: Michael Wood, 1 for 45 yards

PATs: Michael Wood, 1; 1 field goal

Touchdowns: Rasdall, 1 rush; Abendroth, 2 receptions; Kuechenmeister, 1 rush, 1 reception

Conversions: Rasdall, 1 rush; Kuechenmeister, 1 reception; O’melia, 1 rush