Published: October 11, 2008 01:21 am      

Defense keys another Rebel win

GOOSE LAKE — Pretty it wasn't, but then again, it was football, not a beauty pageant.

As has been the case for the Northeast football team all season, the Rebels rode a dominating defensive effort, along with just enough offense, to scratch and claw its way to a 7-2 win over Bellevue in a Class 1A District 4 contest Friday in Goose Lake.

“The bottom line was it was a win,” Northeast head coach Jeremy Mosier noted.

The win had special significance for the program. With two regular-season games remaining, the Rebels have clinched a postseason appearance for the second year in a row — a program first. It also clinched back-to-back unbeaten regular seasons on the Rebels' home turf.

“That was one of our goals at the beginning of the season . . . to go undefeated in Goose Lake,” Mosier related. “We were able to get that accomplished.”

It wasn't easy. The Rebels used three quarterbacks to run their regular-season home-wining streak to 13 straight. They opened the game — as they have for the past two seasons — with Jordan Howe taking the snaps. But late in the first half Howe went to the sidelines with what was reported to be a broken collarbone. Taking over under center — in his varsity debut — was freshman Mitchell Haferbier. The Rebel rookie held his own in his limited time but when the Rebel offense took the field in the second half, it was junior Jed Rogis running the offense.

Rogis was just cleared to play two days earlier, and even that was on a part-time basis due to an AC joint sprain of his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Rogis was limited to quarterback duties, as well as holding for extra points.

“I knew he was ready to go when he came up to me at halftime and said he wanted to play the entire second half,” Mosier said.

Rogis got a chance to show what he could do early in the third quarter when Shaun Eberhart latched on to a Jordan Ries pass. Eberhart's pick and 12-yard return gave his team the ball at the Comets’ 27. Four plays later the Rebels faced a fourth-and-11 from the 16. Rolling to his right, Rogis found Ryan Krogmann just inside the 5-yard line. Krogmann caught the ball, curled to the outside and stretched across the goal line for what turned out to be the game's only touchdown.

“We were going for the end zone on that play,” Mosier said. “Their corner was playing the split between our tight end and our 'Z'. That's a tough split to play. Jed threw a dart to Ryan on that play.”

That turned out to be all the points the Rebels needed to run their record to 6-1 (5-0 in district play), but it took another outstanding effort by the defense to seal the deal.

With 3:29 left in the game, Bellevue took over on its own 48. Picking up a trio of first downs, the Comets moved to the Rebel 14 with 1:25 to play. On first down, the Rebels came up with their second interception when Derek Bormann correctly read a slant play, stepping in front of the intended receiver. Bormann's pick gave the Rebels the ball at their own 2-yard line. With Bellevue down to just one time-out, the Rebels were able to run all but seven seconds off the clock. On fourth down, Bormann took the snap in the end zone, then ran around until he was tackled for a safety just as time expired.

“We bent, but we didn't break,” Northeast defensive coordinator Ryan Unruh said. “We had a couple of big interceptions. One led to seven points and the other prevented seven.”

That the Rebel defense did not give up a point was no surprise. In their five home games they allowed just one touchdown - to Alburnett. They shut out three opponents and if not for the late safety Friday, it would have been four.

Up next for the Rebels is a pair of long road trips. Friday it's a trip to Starmont followed by the regular-season finale at Maquoketa Valley, which is also unbeaten in 1A District 4 action in what is shaping up as the showdown for the district championship.



Score by Quarters

Bellevue 0 0 0 2 — 2

Northeast 0 0 7 0 — 7

Scoring

NE—Ryan Krogmann 16 pass from Jed Rogis (Ivan Sandoval kick), 8:57 3rd.

B—Safety, :00 4th.

BEL NE

First Downs 12 10

Rushes-Yards 46-137 36-130

Passing Yards 56 45

Comp-Att-Int 3-12-2 6-12-1

Punts-Average 4-39 5-34

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0

Penalties-Yards 3-15 4-30