Ninth-ranked Blooming Prairie wanted the win in the first half, and it showed with a 21-0 lead over host United South Central. But the Blossoms did not want to lose in the second half, and they played like it.

USC retaliated against a tentative BPHS squad in the second half and the host Rebels rallied for a 28-21 victory Friday night in Wells. USC (4-0) moved into the lead in the Gopher Valley Conference, while the Blossoms (3-1) suffered their first loss of the season.

"We played to win in the first half, and we played not to lose in the second half," said a distraught Blooming coach Chad Gimbel.

Blossoms quarterback Kraig Olson connected with David Kramer for three touchdown passes in the second quarter and Blooming Prairie seemed well on its way to a 4-0 record. But the battering ground game of USC rumbled back in the second half, spurred by a Blossoms fumble on the opening kickoff of the third quarter.

"That second the tone in the second half," Gimbel said.

USC scored one minute later and added two more touchdowns in the period to tie the score 21-21. A 36-touchdown dash by USC's Steven Wood with 5:37 left in the fourth quarter put the Blossoms in a familiar position when compared to last week's comeback.

Blooming Prairie scored with 11 seconds remaining in last Friday's 27-21 win over Maple River, but the third interception thrown by Olson lost the ball for the Blossoms at the 8-yard-line of USC with 2:54 to go.

Olson finished with 274 yards passing, 157 of which went to Kramer on eight completions. Kramer's second-quarter touchdowns went for 4, 17 and 68 yards, and Steve Salinas kicked the extra points on all three.

United South Central barreled to 246 yards rushing with just 51 passing. Blooming Prairie had only 18 yards on the ground.

The Blossoms stay on the road next week with a trip to Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop. USC meets traditional powerhouse Waterville-Elysian-Morristown (3-1), who is rated seventh in Class AA.

Summary:

Score by quarters

Blooming02100--21

USC00217--28

Summary

BP -- David Kramer 4 pass from Kraig Olson (Steve Salinas kick)

BP -- Kramer 17 pass from Olson (Salinas kick)

BP -- Kramer 68 pass from Olson (Salinas kick)

U -- John Niebuhr 4 run (Justin Knutson kick)

U -- Trevor Haugh 9 run (Knutson kick)

U -- Chris Adams 11 pass from Ben Wetzell (Knutson kick)

U -- Steven Wood 36 run (Knutson kick)

Team stats

BPUSC

Rushing yards18246

Passing yards27451

Total offense292297