Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Quarterback Johhny Grann tosses a pass to freshman Haydon Meier during the season opener against Benson County. Grann was good for 235 passing yards in the game.
The return to high school sports, at least as it happened at Jim Johnson Field in New Rockford Friday, August 21, couldn't have been better for the team playing within its boundaries.
In their first NDHSAA-sanctioned sporting event since the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-March cancelled all school activities for the remainder of 2019-20, the NR-S Rockets rolled to a 62-0 shutout over the Benson County Wildcats.
Even with the graduation of reigning 9-man Senior Athlete of the Year Bo Belquist, starting running back Hunter Thompson and other principal contributors to an 8-2 team a year ago, NR-S showed that they still have plenty of playmakers.
The victory featured sophomore running back/punt returner Haydon Meier scoring three touchdowns, two on the ground (nine, 38 yards) and one return of 42 yards in the first half. Meier had 86 yards on the ground on just 12 attempts.
Quarterback Johnny Grann, the Rockets' senior two-year starter, threw for 235 yards on 8-of-11 passing for three scores. Grann had several big targets with which to connect, including 6'4" Nick Berglund on a 72-yard catch and run to the house in the first quarter, and another 15-yard strike to 6'6" tight end Evan Ulrich.
Berglund finished as the top receiver with 120 yards on three receptions, and Kaden Jensen had two catches for 72 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown, and also brought back an interception 69 yards for NR-S' only second-half score.
Jensen, the fleet-footed junior, was active in the conversion game, running in three two-pointers and catching two more. He was also the defensive leader with six total stops and a pair of interceptions, and Hunter Johnson had four tackles and two sacks.
Trevor Waldo accounted for the other score for NR-S, a one-yard run in the second quarter.
For the game, the Rockets outgained the Wildcats, 412-39, and racked up 17 first downs.
This past Friday, the Rockets (1-0, 1-0 Region 2) traveled to North Star, a 34-8 victim of the St. John Woodchucks in the season opener.
In the upcoming Week 3 contest, NR-S will get their own shot at the 'Chucks, who are expected to be one of the Region 2 contenders once again, in St. John 7 p.m. this Friday night.
Nine-Man
Region 2 Football
Friday, Aug. 21
NR-S 62, Benson Co. 0
BC 0 0 0 0 0
NR-S 24 30 8 0 62
First Quarter
NR-S: Haydon Meier 9 yard run (Kaden Jensen run)
NR-S: Evan Ulrich 15 yard pass from Johnny Grann (Jensen run)
NR-S: Nick Berglund 72 yard pass from Grann (Jensen run)
Second Quarter
NR-S: Trevor Waldo 1 yard run (conversion failed)
NR-S: Meier 42 yard punt return (Ulrich pass from Grann)
NR-S: Jensen 44 yard pass from Grann (Jensen pass from Grann)
NR-S: Meier 38 yard run (Jensen pass from Grann)
Third Quarter
NR-S: Jensen 69 yard interception return (Meier run)
NR-S Statistics
Passing: Grann 8-11-235 yards-3 TD
Rushing: Meier 12-86-2 TD; Jensen 4-35; Grann 3-27; Bradyn Collier 3-16; Connor Knatterud 3-12; Waldo 1-1-TD
Receiving: Berglund 3-120-TD; Jensen 2-72-TD; Meier 1-22; Ulrich 2-21-TD
Tackles (unassisted-assisted): Jensen (4-2); Hunter Johnson (4-1); Koby Duda (2-1); Alex Harrison (2-1); Waldo (1-0); Ulrich (1-0); DJ Mudgett (1-0); Kailar Jacobson (1-0); Grann (0-1); Berglund (0-3); Hunter Jacobson (0-4); Michael Songer (0-3)
Sacks: Johnson 2, Duda, Harrison
Interceptions: Jensen 2
