Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Minnesota Valley Lutheran’s Cole Thompson (6) and Garret Parker (8) dive for a fumble during the Chargers’ home game with Wabasso on Friday night at Johnson Field.

NEW ULM — Minnesota Valley Lutheran’s defense set the tone early on against Wabasso on Friday night in Southwest District football action.

That defense stayed steady throughout the game for the Chargers as they used it to run away with a 38-6 win at Johnson Field.

After falling to Matin County West 34-16 a week ago, the Chargers changed up some schemes and rebounded in a big way against the Rabbits.

Sophomore Bradyn Kube was one standout for the Chargers on defense and special teams against Wabasso, getting an interception and a blocked punt in the first quarter that both led to points.

MVL head coach Jim Buboltz said those big plays by Kube helped set the tone early on.

“Tone-setting plays right from the beginning,” Buboltz said. “We wanted to come out right away and assert ourselves. And I thought after those plays we were able to get going on the offensive side and then play-action over the top. Bradyn Kube — huge game. Cole Thompson — huge game. And Luke, while he made the plays and calls in the backfield, I thought our line did a fantastic job up front.”

Landen Merseth forced a fumble and led the Chargers’ defense in tackles with 10.

Luke Thompson threw for 107 yards and rushed for 61 yards. Cole Thompson caught four passes for 83 yards, while Jake Price rushed for 113 yards.

MVL opened up the first quarter with plenty of scoring thanks to their defense. After a quick interception by Kube gave MVL the ball at the Wabasso 47, the Chargers ended their first drive of the game with points. A 33-yard pass from Luke Thompson to Cole Thompson put the Chargers at the Wabasso 1. That pass set up an easy 1-yard TD run by Cole Thompson on the next play.

A two-point conversion run gave MVL an 8-0 lead with 7:50 left in the first quarter.

The Rabbits were forced to punt on their next drive, but a high snap ended up giving MVL the ball at the Wabasso 34. Luke Thompson found Cole Thompson on another deep pass, this time a 30-yard TD pass down the sideline. Another two-point conversion run put MVL up 16-0 with 4:07 left in the first.

Wabasso continued to struggle on offense as Merseth forced a fumble that was recovered by Garret Parker at the Wabasso 27. The Rabbits got the ball back a minute later after Sam Welch forced and recovered an MVL fumble on a strip sack at the Rabbits’ 35.

Things didn’t get any easier for the Wabasso offense after that recovery, however. The Rabbits were forced to punt on the drive after failing to move the chains, but the punt was blocked by Kube. Cole Thompson then scooped the ball up and took it down the sideline for his third TD of the game and a 24-0 MVL lead after a two-point conversion.

The Chargers scored two more TDs in the second half, a 1-yard TD run by Merseth in the third quarter and a 21-yard TD pass from Luke Thompson to William Kaesermann in the fourth to go up 38-0.

After a high snap on a punt attempt led to an MVL turnover on downs late, the Rabbits got the ball at the MVL 23. They then scored their only TD of the game on a 4-yard run from Boston Brand with 2:30 left.

The Chargers (2-2) host Adrian-Ellsworth on Friday, while the Rabbits (0-4) host Tracy-Milroy-Balaton Friday.