SHERBURN — Wyatt Geistfeld was the definition of passing efficiency.

Geistfeld completed 2 of 4 passes for 29 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing 14 times for 125 yards and two TDs in Martin County West’s 28-18 non-section win over the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Panthers on Friday night in Sherburn.

Geistfeld put the Mavericks’ first points on the board with 8:49 left before halftime.

MCW forced a punt and started their second drive of the day from the Panthers’ 40. Jaxson Rohman and Miles Fitzgerald combined to carry the ball 32 of the 40 yards before Geistfeld took a 4th-and-goal carry from the 2 and sprinted out to the right sideline, beating the defenders to the corner for a score. Alec Weir made the first of his four extra-point kicks on four attempts to put the Mavericks up 7-0.

The Maverick defense then forced a three-and-out and put the offense back on the field with possession at the MCW 40.

Two plays got the Mavericks to the Panthers’ 49, then Geistfeld faked a handoff and sprinted toward the left sideline. He made his way free down the sideline and shook a defender to add a few yards to his 34-yard tote.

A holding flag pushed the Mavericks to the 25 before Fitzgerald took a fullback dive up the middle to the 21. Then Geistfeld threw his first completion to Raine Stade down the right sideline, Stade battled with his defender, but was able to get behind him and take the ball into the end zone for a 21-yard score. After Weir’s extra point, the Mavericks held a 14-0 lead with 5:13 left in the half.

The Panthers answered with a 15-play 90-yard drive culminating in a touchdown pass from Blake Ihrke to Evan Reyna on a nine-yard post.

Lonnie Wilson accounted for the biggest play of the drive with a 41-yard catch on a quick slant from the slot on the left side of the formation.

Ben Schoenrock’s kick was blocked, leaving the Mavericks with a 14-6 lead heading into the intermission.

MCW head coach Tom Elliott said he was pleased with how the Mavericks fought through problems.

“I’m really happy with the performance,” Elliott said. “I told them, they’re backs were up against the wall a couple of times, there were two or three times where they were trying to steal the momentum and we had to get it back. We had to figure out a way to win. … We’re extremely happy with the boys’ effort, they’re playing the brand of football that we want to play. We set out and did the things we wanted to do.”

The Mavericks started the second half quickly when Rohman carried the ball five times for 32 yards to help lead a 10-play 63-yard drive. Geistfeld ended the drive with an eight-yard pass to Stade for his second passing touchdown.

Weir made his extra point attempt to put the Mavericks ahead 21-6 with 7 minutes left in the third quarter. The Mavericks would not relinquish the two-score advantage. Elliott said the lead allowed the Mavericks to play more freely.

“Coming out of halftime we talked about that,” Elliott said. “We needed to get back on the scoreboard, we gave up a cheap one right before half. … But they came out and were able to get a two-score lead back. That changes the mindset of the kids. … Whenever you can get up by multiple scores, the kids can relax and go out and make plays.”

Wilson wouldn’t let the Panthers lose without a fight, returning the ensuing kickoff 95 yards through the middle of the field for a touchdown, but the two point conversion was unsuccessful, leaving the Mavericks ahead 21-12.

After a punted touchback, the Mavericks started a fourth-quarter drive with eight minutes remaining at their own 20.

Fitzgerald and Rohman combined for five carries, taking the ball to the 35, before Geistfeld iced the game. Geistfeld rolled to his left and took the ball into the second level of defenders before cutting across the field to the right sideline where he was free for a 65-yard touchdown run.

Weir made the extra point once more to put the Mavericks ahead 28-12 with 4:14 left.

NRHEG only needed three plays to answer when Ihrke passed twice to Reyna for 25 yards, then hit Wilson for a 42-yard score. But the ensuing onside kick was unsuccessful.

The Panthers got one more shot on offense after a punt downed them at their own 11, but Max Olson fought his way through the offensive line on second down and sacked Ihrke, forcing a fumble in the process, which Stade recoverd.

Geistfeld kneeled out the final minute to close the win.

With a 2-2 record midway through the season, Elliott said a .500 record is right were the Mavericks needed to be.

“I’m very happy with where we are,” Elliott said. “The first four games of our schedule have been extremely tough. We’ve played a couple of top-10 teams. We’re sitting right where we need to.”

Rohman led the Mavericks’ rushing attack with 30 carries for 122 yards, while Fitzgerald added 12 carries for 33 yards.

MCW (2-2) travels to Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop for a 7 p.m. game next Friday night, while NRHEG (1-3) plays host to LeSueur-Henderson.

MCW 0 14 7 7 — 28

NRHEG 0 6 6 6 — 18

Scoring Plays

1st Quarter

No scoring

2nd Quarter

MCW–Wyatt Geistfeld 2 run (Alec Weir kick), 8:49.

MCW–Raine Stade 21 pass from Geistfeld (Weir kick), 5:13.

NRHEG–Evan Reyna 9 pass from Blake Ihrke (kick failed), 0:58.5.

3rd Quarter

MCW–Stade 8 pass from Geistfeld (Weir kick), 7:00.

NRHEG–Lonnie Wilson 95 kick return (run failed), 6:45.

4th Quarter

MCW–Geistfeld 65 run (Weir kick), 4:14.

NRHEG–Wilson 42 pass from Ihrke (pass failed), 3:41.

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs: MCW 15; NRHEG 9. Rushing: MCW 58-284; NRHEG 24-52. Passing: MCW 2-4-0-29; NRHEG 13-20-0-176. Fumbles-lost: MCW 2-0; NRHEG 2-1. Penalties: MCW 2-31; NRHEG 5-25.

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Offense: Rushing: Jaxson Rohman (MCW) 30-122; Wyatt Geistfeld (MCW) 14-125. Passing: Blake Ihrke (NRHEG) 13-20-0-176. Receiving: Lonnie Wilson (NRHEG) 4-103; Evan Reyna (NRHEG) 5-42; Raine Stade (MCW) 2-29.

Defense: Blocked kick: Maverick Knutson (NRHEG). Fumbles forced: Max Olson (MCW). Fumbles recovered: Raine Stade (MCW).

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Blue Earth Area 61, Windom Area 8 — The Bucs ran over the Eagles to celebrate their Homecoming in style via a 53-point victory Friday night.

BEA accounted for 382 yards rushing as a team in their South Central White district win at Wilson in Blue Earth.

Bucs running back Koby Nagel accounted for four touchdowns on the ground, including a 13-yard, a 10-yard and a pair of 1-yard scores.

BEA quarterback Gavin Storbeck threw a seven-yard TD to Caelan Sanders and Sanders also ran for a 17-yard score.

Austin Thielfoldt rushed for a 16-yard score, Jaxen Klinkner ran in a 14-yard touchdown and Zach Herrmann returned a punt for a 55-yard touchdown.

Storbeck completed 10 of 11 passes for 144 yards, while Nagel totaled 185 yards on 22 carries.

Cole Warmka added 78 yards on six totes, while Cameron Anderson caught one pass for 47 yards, Sanders caught 4 for 46 and Nagel caught 3 for 33.

Sanderson and Anderson each pulled down an interception.

BEA (4-0, 1-0) travels to Pipestone for a South Central White district game at 7 p.m. next Friday.

BEA 14 22 19 6 — 61

WIN 8 0 0 0 — 8

Scoring Plays

1st Quarter

BEA–Koby Nagel 13 run (kick failed), 9:26.

WIN–Kade Sammons 54 run (Sammons run good), 7:39.

BEA–Caelan Sanders 7 pass from Gavin Storbeck (Two-point conversion good on pass), 4:02.

2nd Quarter

BEA–Sanders 17 run (Two-point conversion good on pass), 11:53.

BEA–Nagel 10 run (Kean Hicks kick), 4:40.

BEA–Nagel 1 run (Hicks kick), 0:47.

3rd Quarter

BEA–Nagel 1 run (Hicks kick), 8:38.

BEA–Austin Thielfoldt 16 run (kick failed), 6:18.

BEA–Jaxen Klinkner 14 run (Keagan Ihle kick), 5:27.

4th Quarter

BEA–Zach Herrmann 55 punt return (kick failed), 4:29.

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Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s 23, Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman 6 — The Knights downed the Jaguars by 17 points during prep football action Friday night in Sleepy Eye.

No individual or team statistics were provided by either school.

Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman (0-4) plays host to Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda at 7 p.m. next Friday night in Granada.

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Lake Mills 31, North Union 8 — The Bulldogs collared the Warriors by 23 points during Iowa prep football action Friday night in Lake Mills.

No individual or team statistics were provided by either school.

North Union (2-2) travels to Graettinger, Iowa, next Friday night to face Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven Ayrshire.