Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Rockets chop down Woodchucks

On Sept. 3, the New Rockford-Sheyenne Rockets (1-2, 0-0) finally got their season on track with a dominant 18-6 win over the St. John Woodchucks (1-2, 0-0).

In their first two games this season, NR-S struggled with two things: running the ball and stopping the run, but nothing could have been further from the truth versus St. John. The Rockets were dominant in all three on Friday, nowhere more so than on defense.

Led by senior Nick Berglund, with eight tackles and two sacks, the Rocket defense held their opponents to just two yards rushing on 23 attempts. They also held the Woodchucks to 0-of-9 on third-down conversions, collected three turnovers, and amassed six tackles for loss, including four sacks.

"We played with a lot more effort," said Rockets head coach Elliot Belquist. "Against Bottineau, after they scored their first two touchdowns, it kind of felt like we gave up, and we talked a lot about that this week. We had success moving some kids around as well. I thought Nick Berglund made a big difference at D-tackle, and then Easton Benz, an eighth grader, stepped up and played phenomenal for his age at D-end."

Meanwhile, Senior Kaden Jensen wasted no time jump starting the Rockets offense, blasting off for a 66-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game. From then on, a three-pronged ground attack of Jensen, Connor Knatterud and Hayden Meier slashed through St. John's defense for 247 rushing yards.

"We've been in a spread offense for four or five years, and after Luke got hurt, I felt like it was time for a change," said Belquist. "I didn't want to see another quarterback get hurt, and I felt like we needed to instill some more toughness in our kids, so we went to more of a run option game."

The change clearly worked for NR-S. Their ground attack was so prolific that the Rockets' offense hardly needed to throw, completing two passes for 45 yards. It was just the tonic NR-S needed after losing their starting quarterback the week prior. However, the Rockets' offense still had multiple drives stall inside the red zone, allowing the Woodchucks to stay within touching distance all night.

Early in the fourth quarter, St. John had driven to the Rockets' eight-yard line, and with the score still close, NR-S needed a stop. Right on cue, Kaden Jensen intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it 59 yards the other way.

"The dude came at me and then I saw him break, and I knew they were throwing to him, because that was their main target the whole game," explained Jensen. "So, I just tried to jump in front of him to knock it down, but I got there so fast I just picked it and I was like 'might as well keep going and see how far I can get.' "

New Rockford-Sheyenne kicked off regional competition at home versus North Star on September 10.

Nine-Man

Non Region Football

Friday, Sept. 3

NR-S 18, St. John 6

NR-S: 6 6 6 0 - 18

St. John: 0 6 0 0 - 6

First Quarter:

NR-S: Kaden Jensen 66-yard touchdown run (conversion failed)

Second Quarter:

St. John: 40-yard touchdown pass from Zavier Parisien (conversion failed)

NR-S: Trevor Waldo 29-yard touchdown pass from Haydon Meier (conversion failed)

Third Quarter:

NR-S: Haydon Meier 38-yard touchdown run (conversion failed)

NR-S Statistics

Passing: Meier, 2-of-10 for 45 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.

Rushing: Meier, 110 yards on 17 attempts and 1 TD; Jensen, 127 yards on 17 attempts and 1 TD; Knatterud, 10 yards on 7 attempts.

Receiving: Waldo, 1 reception for 29 yards and a TD; Knatterud, 1 reception for 16 yards.

Tackles: (unassisted-assisted): Nick Berglund (4-4); Easton Benz (4-1); Hayden Meier (3-0); Kaden Jensen (3-3); Trevor Waldo (3-3); Connor Knatterud (2-2); Koby Duda (2-2); DJ Mudgett (0-4); Jordan Boehm (0-4); Hunter Jacobson (0-1).

Sacks: Berglund (2), Benz, Duda.

Interceptions: Jensen.