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Panthers fall to Bottineau 40-14 in homecoming game

By Sue Sitter - | Oct 1, 2022

Sue Sitter/PCT Rugby Panthers quarterback Brody Schneibel, left, aims for open wide receiver Macen Heisler, center, as Heisler gets into position.

Although the Bottineau Braves football squad came to Rugby High School’s Johnsen Field to spoil the Panthers’ homecoming party, Rugby stayed in the fight until the game ended with a 40-14 Bottineau win.

The Braves went to work early, with running back Jacob Shriver carrying the ball in for a Bottineau touchdown on the team’s first drive of the game. Rugby’s defensive squad batted away an extra point pass attempt.

The Panthers not only had the Braves as opponents, but penalties as well.

After a holding call set Rugby back 10 yards, Panthers’ tailback Macen Heisler rushed for one first down, then another. Quarterback Brody Schneibel gained ground, too, before a false start penalty on the Panthers pushed them back yet again. An incomplete pass forced a Rugby decision to punt.

Meanwhile, the Braves, led by quarterback Ryder Pollman, fought against a tough Panthers defense that prevented any more points, at least for the first quarter.

Bottineau still made plenty of forward progress, however. That progress set up a second Braves touchdown in the opening minutes of the second quarter. After Shriver ran the ball in, Pollman again attempted a pass for two points. This time, the pass bounced from the fingers of one Braves receiver to Eli Bristol, who nabbed the ball in midair for the successful conversion.

The Braves led 14-0 and were not about to slow down.

The Panthers’ next drive had a promising start when wide receiver Jacob Ripplinger took the ball to the Rugby 38-yard line for a first down. Schneibel’s brother, fullback Austin Schneibel took another pass to the 46-yard line for another first down.

But after another holding penalty against the Panthers, Bottineau’s Gabe Nero picked off Brody Schneibel’s next pass.

The interception set the stage for another methodical drive downfield for Bottineau, resulting in touchdown number three for the Braves. Another penalty against Rugby put the Braves in a very good position for a two-point conversion try. Nero plowed through a wall of Rugby defenders for a 22-0 Braves lead.

A penalty on Rugby after a Bottineau punt gave the Braves possession again quickly.

The Braves caught a holding penalty of their own, but it did little to stop them.

The Panthers defense stayed on the Braves, breaking up passes until Bottineau’s fourth down.

Pollman risked a turnover on downs when he connected with Nero for a second chance and more yards. The Braves worked through another penalty, carrying the ball to the Panthers’ 15-yard line before another Shriver touchdown.

Penalties worked against the Braves in their two-point conversion attempt this time. The half ended with a 28-0 Bottineau lead and light rain beginning to fall.

The third quarter saw Bottineau’s offense slip up a bit, and the Panthers took advantage. Broken-up passes and a fumbled snap forced the Braves to punt.

Brody Schneibel moved the ball downfield with a completed pass to Travis Risovi, and then connected with Ripplinger for a 50-yard touchdown pass.

With a 28-6 Braves lead after a failed Rugby two-point conversion, Pollman connected with Carson Haerer for a fifth Bottineau touchdown.

Rugby denied the Braves two more points.

A personal foul put the Panthers on their own 40-yard line after Bottineau punted.

But Brody Schneibel fumbled the ball in the slippery grass, giving Bottineau possession and setting the stage for a 74-yard Haerer touchdown.

On the Panthers’ next possession, Brody Schneibel carried for a first down, then for three more yards. He connected with wide receiver Erik Foster and Ripplinger for more yardage before penalties pulled Rugby back.

Still, Brody Schneibel kept moving forward, connecting with Ripplinger to move the ball to the Bottineau 14. He handed the ball to Austin Schneibel, who plowed through a line of Braves for a second Panthers touchdown.

Seconds later, Austin Schneibel tumbled into the end zone for two more points.

The touchdown by the Schneibel brothers was the final score of the game.

After the game, Panthers Coach Travis Risovi talked to his team.

Risovi said of Bottineau’s Pollman, “He played well tonight. Their receivers caught the ball and they made plays when we didn’t.

“We hurt ourselves early with some penalties and got behind the chains,” he added. “Then, we dug ourselves a hole. We tried to fight back in the second half, but it was too little, too late.”

Risovi said of the after-game talk with his team, “I told them it doesn’t define us, what kind of people we are. When things don’t go our way, we keep our heads up and keep fighting and don’t let anybody keep us back from accomplishing what we want to accomplish.

“It’s one of those things that’s a life lesson,” he added. 

“Every day, you get up and you give it your all. You give it your best and sometimes things don’t go your way, and sometimes they do,” he said. “This is one of those days that they’ll remember and learn a lesson from, and come Monday, our heads will be back up and we’ll get to work.”

Risovi said he liked what he saw from the Panthers in the second half of the game.

“They didn’t give up,” he said. “I liked the fight in the second half. We came back in the second half with the idea that we were going to get back in this game. Unfortunately, we got our big play and needed to get a stop and we didn’t get a stop right away and gave up a big play.”

As the football season heads into its final weeks, Risovi said of the Panthers’ playoff picture, “It’s not looking good. We’ve won one game in the region.”

Risovi noted the Panthers had no intention of giving up.

“We’re going to go to work every day and try to finish the season with a winning record, and whatever happens happens,” he said.