Undefeated

On Friday, Oct. 13, the New Rockford-Sheyenne/Maddock Rockets completed their regular season with a dominant win over the North Border Eagles in Walhalla, N.D.

The victory brought the Rockets' regular season record to a perfect 8-0 – their first undefeated regular season since 2018.

The story of Friday night's game in Walhalla was similar to most of the Rockets' games this season: pure dominance.

Quarterback Easton Simon got the scoring started with a pair of touchdown passes in the first quarter, with the first going to Logan Fossen on a 45-yard connection and the second to Macyn Olson for 31 yards.

Last season the Rockets relied almost entirely on the running attack, but throughout this season they've begun to rely more and more on Simon and the passing game.

Simon has responded by delivering time and time again, allowing his coaches to keep opposing defenses guessing with a balanced attack.

Of course, like he was last season, Connor Knatterud has been huge for the Rockets in the ground game, and Carter Engbretson has proven to be another solid option, particularly in short yardage and goal-line situations.

With such a strong passing and running offense, it's easy to see why NR-S/M keep dominating.

The Rockets' final touchdown of the first quarter came on a 36-yard touchdown run courtesy of Knatterud, who also kicked the extra point and gave his team a 22-0 advantage.

By then the writing was on the wall, and the Rockets would go on to defeat North Border by a final score of 63-12.

The 2023 season can now be added to the list of other undefeated seasons in Rockets' history, which includes 1998, 2003, 2004, 2012 and 2018.

However, more important than earning an undefeated season, the victory also gave the Rockets the second seed in the 9-man football playoffs.

A second seed guarantees the Rockets home-field advantage throughout the playoffs until the state championship game in Fargo, should they make it that far.

In Round 1 of the playoffs, the Rockets play the 4th place team out of Region 1, the 5-4 Hankinson Pirates, on Saturday, Oct. 21.

The winner of that game plays the winner of North Star vs. Lamoure-Litchville/Marion on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 1:30 p.m.

The top seed in the playoffs was awarded to the undefeated Sargent County Bulldogs, who will play the Nelson County Chargers in their first round matchup.

The third seed in the playoffs was awarded to the South Border Mustangs, who look to be the Rockets' biggest competition on their side of the bracket.

Coverage of the Rockets' first-round playoff matchup will be posted online at newrockfordtranscript.com following the game.

9-Man Region 2

Football

NR-S/M 63, NB 12

Friday, Oct. 13

at Walhalla

First Quarter:

NR-S/M: Logan Fossen 45-yard pass from Easton Simon (extra-point good)

NR-S/M: Macyn Olson 31-yard pass from Simon (successful two-point conversion)

NR-S/M: Connor Knatterud 35-yard run (extra-point good)

Second Quarter:

NR-S/M: Logan Maddock 12-yard run (extra-point good)

NR-S/M: Simon 10-yard run (extra-point good)

NR-S/M: Knatterud 1-yard run (extra-point no good)

Third quarter:

NR-S/M: Knatterud 76-yard run (extra-point good)

NR-S/M: Keaton Cudworth 49-yard pass from Simon (successful two-point conversion)

Fourth quarter:

NB: 15-yard pass (failed two-point conversion)

NR-S/M: Thomas Allmaras 44-yard run (failed two-point conversion)

NB: 7-yard pass (extra-point no good)

NR-S/M Stats:

Passing: Simon 10-of-14, 263 yards, 3 TD.

Rushing: Knatterud 136 yards, 3 TD; Allmaras 44 yards, 1 TD; Maddock 40 yards, 1 TD; Gabe Engebretson 19 yards; Carter Engebretson 17 yards; Simon 10 yards, 1 TD.

Receiving: Olson 2 receptions, 70 yards, 1 TD; Cudworth 1 reception, 49 yards, 1 TD; Fossen 1 reception, 45 yards, 1 TD; Easton Benz 3 receptions, 43 yards, 1 TD; Maddock 2 receptions, 26 yards; Knatterud 1 reception, 3 yards.

Tackles: (unassisted-assisted): C. Engebretson (8-2), 5 TFL; Maddock (6-0), Olson (4-0), G. Engebretson (2-1), 1 TFL; Fossen (2-0); Kage Walford (2-1), 1 TFL; Cole Knudson (2-1); Knatterud (2-1); Benz (1-1); Skye Kramlich (1-0); Brody Weisenburger (0-4); Bradyn Collier (0-2); DJ Mudgett (0-1); Jackson Schumacher (0-1).

Sacks: C. Engebretson (4).

Interceptions: Walford (1).