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2nd half surge puts Rockets over Pirates
Published 9:24pm Saturday, October 27, 2012UNDERWOOD — The Underwood Rockets were able to overcome a slow start as they defeated the Verndale Pirates 26-16 Saturday in the Section 4 9-man playoffs.
The Pirates came out swinging in the first quarter as quarterback Dillon Card evaded pressure to find wide receiver Dallas Ehrmantraut for a five yard touchdown pass. Card would rush in the two point conversion to give Verndale a eight point lead after the first quarter.
The Rockets were able to shift the momentum in their favor in the second quarter as a Pirate fumble was converted into a one yard quarterback sneak by Noah Rocholl. The point after attempted failed putting the home team behind 8-6 at the break.
Verndale came back out revitalized as Card found his favorite target Ehrmantraut once again, this time for a 37 yard score. Card would punch in the two point conversion as the Pirates stretched their lead to 10.
Underwood would wake up on the following drive as they marched down the field, ending with a Chase Collins four yard plunge. Rocholl would cut the deficit to two after the two point conversion run.
The Rockets would control the rest of the game as a second Verndale fumble finished with Rocholl scoring his second touchdown of the day this time on a two yard run to put the home team up four at the end of the third quarter.
Cody Karst would help put the game away for the Rockets as he scampered for 27 yard touchdown and a 10 point victory.
“It was a very physical game,” Rockets coach Chuck Ross said. “I was proud of the way our players responded in the second half.”
Collins led the Rockets with 106 yards on 29 carries and a touchdown, while Rocholl rushed for two touchdowns and had 52 yards on the ground.
The Rockets will now move on to the section title game Friday, as they take on last season’s state runner-up Wheaton/Herman-Norcross at 10 a.m. in the Fargodome.
Underwood 26, Verndale 16
1 2 3 4 F
VRN 8 0 8 0 — 16
UHS 0 6 14 6 — 26
1st Quarter
(VRN) Dallas Ehrmantraut 5 yd pass from Dillon Card (Card run)
2nd Quarter
(UHS) Noah Rocholl 1 yd run (pass failed)
3rd Quarter
(VRN) Ehrmantraut 37 yd pass from Card (Card run)
(UHS) Chase Collins 4 yd run (Rocholl run)
(UHS) Rocholl 2 yd run (run failed)
4th Quarter
(UHS) Cody Karst 27 yd run (run failed)
VRN UHS
First Downs 9 9
Rusning Yards 138 221
Passing Yards 100 48
Comp.-Att.-Int. 7-12-1 2-2
Fumbles 2 0
Penalties 5-40 3-15
Rushing Leaders: (UHS) Collins 29-106, TD; Rocholl 14-52 yds, 2 TDs
Passing Leaders: (VRN) Card 6-10-1 89 yds, 2 TDs.
Receiving Leaders: (VRN) Ehrmantraut 3-48 yds, 2 TDs.
