Zumbrota-Mazeppa Over Pine Island

After going 2-7 last year, the Zumbrota-Mazeppa Cougars closed out the regular season on Wednesday night with a 26-22 win over Pine Island to finish the regular season 6-2. The game was played at the new elementary school soccer field because the regular field was damaged in the rain a few weeks ago.

Isaiah Stueber threw to Jacob Niebuhr with 4:39 to go in the first quarter to open the scoring. Teryn Erickson's kick was blocked and the score was 6-0 Z-M.

Jacob Bennett got the first of two pick-six interceptions on the night with 2:51 to go in the first quarter and Erickson's kick made it 13-0. Bennett was our State Farm Insurance Agent Lyle Wendroth player of the game.

The Panthers got on the board in the closing moments of the first half on a run from Brady Braaten; Josh Navratil got the two-point conversion and it was 13-8.

In the third quarter, Robvon Jackson took it more than 70 yards for a touchdown and, after the kick from Erickson, it was 20-8. Joe Bauer of Pine Island returned the kickoff after the touchdown and ran it more than 80 yards for a score and the kick was good and it was now 20-15 Z-M.

Late in the fourth quarter, Jacob Bennett got his second interception for 6, and Erickson's kick made it 26-15. Pine Island moved the ball down field and Josh Milbrandt scored and the extra point kick made it 26-22. Pine Island attempted an on-side kick but Z-M recovered it. Pine Island is 3-5. With their playoff schedule not set yet. Zumbrota will open the playoffs at home with a rematch with Dover-Eyota. The Cougars won the game in week 3, 27-14.