MAPLETON — Blue Earth Area utilized the one-two punch of Gavin Storbeck’s passing and Koby Nagel’s rushing to ease by Maple River, 29-0, in season-opening prep football action in Mapleton on Thursday night.

Storbeck completed 13 of 20 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns, while Nagel carried 13 times for 79 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Buc attack. Nagel also caught four passes for 66 yards and one touchdown.

The duo capped the Bucs’ second drive of the game by connecting on a 25-yard pass to put Blue Earth Area on the board in the first quarter. The touchdown ended a drive that began at the Bucs’ own 2-yard-line. Blue Earth Area missed the extra point, but led 6-0 going into the second quarter.

Nagel kept the pressure on the Eagles by rumbling into the end zone from 2 yards out, following an 82-yard drive. Storbeck tossed the two-point conversion to Caelan Sanders to make the score 14-0.

The Bucs returned to the end zone on their next drive, with Storbeck connecting with Cameron Anderson on a 24-yard touchdown pass. It capped another long drive, this one 67 yards. Nagel ran for the two-point conversion, making the score 22-0, which stood at halftime.

The Bucs put up their final score of the night in the third quarter, when Storbeck handed off to Nagel, who ran 24 yards for the touchdown. Kean Hicks kicked the extra point to make it 29-0, which would be the final.

Anderson ended the night by catching five passes for 67 yards. Sanders caught four for 92.

On the ground, Max Ehrich ran for 17 yards on 11 carries, Cole Warmka had 16 yards on 7 attempts and Sanders added 14 yards on two rushes.

Overall, the Blue Earth Area offense ran for 98 yards and threw for 230, tallying 328 yards overall.

The Bucs defense also shined. It forced seven punts and gave up just 131 yards of total offense.

Maple River quarterback Caden Oschendorf was 5 of 14 for 26 yards. He also led the Eagles’ rushing attack, with 65 yards on 17 carries.

Nathan Trio caught four passes for 26 yards for Maple River.

The game was the first of the year for both teams. Blue Earth Area travels Sept. 6 to New Richland to play New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva at 7 p.m. Maple River travels to Luverne for a 7 p.m. start on Sept. 6

B.E. Area 6 16 7 0–29

Maple River 0 0 0 0– 0

Scoring Plays

First quarter

BEA — Gavin Storbeck 25-yard pass to Koby Nagel. (PAT kick failed)

Second quarter

BEA — Nagel 2-yard run. (Storbeck pass to Caelan Sanders good)

BEA — Storbeck 24-yard pass to Cameron Anderson (Nagel run good)

Third quarter

BEA — Nagel 24-yard run (Kean Hicks kick good)