ADAMS — Every time Rushford-Peterson picked up any momentum Friday night, the Southland Rebels responded quickly — and ultimately came out on top in their homecoming football game.

Southland (6-0 overall, 3-0 Three Rivers South) knocked off the Trojans (4-2, 1-2) 35-20, but as the old sports cliché goes, the game was closer than the final score.

Twice, Rushford-Peterson had the game tied with Southland, but each time the Rebels came back with quick touchdowns.

“We came right back on them when they scored,” Southland coach Shawn Kennedy said. “We just wanted to keep going.”

In the first quarter, a 68-yard touchdown scamper by Rushford-Peterson’s Logan Brand evened the game at 7-7.

On their next drive, the Rebels methodically marched down the field with eight runs before scoring to once again take the lead.

To start the second half, the Trojans got a 85-yard kickoff return for touchdown from Dalton Mensink, and the score was 14-14.

The Rebels next drive stalled, but Rushford-Peterson botched the punt return and the Rebels’ Chris May recovered on the Trojan 20.

Three plays later, a touchdown run put Southland up 21-14 — and they didn’t look back.

Ben Wolterman intercepted a Steven Koenen pass on the next Rushford-Peterson possession, and once again the Rebels took the ball down the field for a touchdown.

The muffed punt and interception in back-to-back drives deflated the Trojans, and Rushford-Peterson co-head coach Mitch Thompson knew his team couldn’t afford mistakes Friday.

“(Southland) is a well coached football team,” he said. “They’re gonna be fun to watch come playoff time.”

If the Rebels do make any noise in the 2A playoffs, they will almost certainly do it on the ground.

On Friday, seven different Southland players carried the football as the team racked up 217 yards on the ground.

Leading the charge were sophomore Tyler Kressin, who had 73 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns, and Wolterman, who also had 10 carries while scoring once.

By rotating their runners, Southland is able to keep them fresh, which was evident later in the game as the Rebels wore down Rushford-Peterson.

“They’ve got some weapons,” coach Thompson said.

Added Kennedy: “It’s a team effort.”

Making the victory even more sweet was doing it on homecoming in front of a full crowd, especially when the Rebels lost on homecoming last year.

Senior offensive lineman — and homecoming king — Casey Cederstrom said the victory meant a lot for his graduating class.

“It feels great,” he added.

SCORING SUMMARY

First:

SL- Sam Noterman 25-yard pass to Alan May. Kick good (7-0, Southland)

RP- Logan Brand 68-yard run. Kick good (7-7)

SL- Noterman 3-yard run. Kick good (14-7, SL)

Second:

No scoring

Third:

RP- Dalton Mensink 85-yard kickoff return. Kick good (14-14)

SL- Tyler Kressin 5-yard run. Kick good (21-14, SL)

SL- Kressin 5-yard run. Kick good (28-14, SL)

Fourth:

RP- Justin Boyum 17-yard run. Kick blocked (28-20, SL)

SL- Ben Wolterman 8-yard run. Kick good (35-20, SL)