Rockets open season on road

Nathan Price | Aug 29, 2022

Nathan Price count

Connor Knatterud is shown trying to maneuver his way through two Nelson County Chargers on defense. Knatterud scored a touchdown on an 78-yard kick-off return.

Nathan Price count

Easton Benz jumps up in an attempt to catch a pass around the hands of a Nelson County defender.

Nathan Price count

The Rockets' players lined up along the end-zone before the start of the game to honor the singing of the National Anthem.

Nathan Price count

Haydon Meier attempts to weave through defenders.

count

On Friday, Aug. 19, the New Rockford-Sheyenne Rockets kicked off their 2022 season against the Nelson County Chargers in McVille.

Last season, the Chargers went undefeated in the regular season and extinguished any hopes NR-S had of becoming region 3 champions. For that reason, in addition to the Rockets' lack of upperclassman this year, the Chargers were favorites entering Friday's matchup.

Unfortunately for NR-S, it showed.

The Rockets' attempted to establish a run game early, but it soon became clear that blocking would be an issue. Overall, however, the game started well for NR-S.

A pair of Rocket receivers managed to break through the secondary for a pair of nice catches, including one for a touchdown by Easton Benz, giving NR-S an early 8-0 lead to cap their first drive of the season. They followed that up with an impressive 4th down stop on their seven-yard line.

"We took care of the ball right away," said Rockets Head Coach Elliot Belquist. "We had some good drives and ate the clock like our game plan was."

But momentum soon began swinging in the Chargers direction.

The Rockets' second drive was marred by penalties and didn't feature the same successful pass plays the first drive did. Then Nelson County capitalized with their first touchdown - a short shovel pass that went the distance.

"The second drive and thereafter we just shot ourselves in the foot too many times," said Belquist. "Too many motion penalties, a couple holding calls, just drive killers that we can't have."

Matters soon worsened as a failed fake-punt attempt gave way to another Chargers score before halftime, made possible by a busted coverage in the red zone. Nelson County pounced again to start the third, completing another touchdown pass to take a 22-8 lead.

But just as it seemed the Chargers were running away with it, Connor Knatterud silenced the home crowd with a 78-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, slashing their deficit and bringing the Rockets right back in contention with 5:27 left in the third quarter.

The Rockets continued fighting back as the sun began to set, responding to a fourth quarter touchdown from Nelson County with one of their own, which put them just one score behind with a little under three minutes left in regulation.

"We didn't quit," said Belquist on his team's effort in the second half. "We got down by two scores but we came back, put a drive together and scored with about three minutes left. That was promising; last year at times we kinda just cooled it after something like that happened."

Belquist added, "Physically they handled us up front a bit, but the guys didn't quit, kept fighting, and in the fourth quarter gave us a chance against what I thought was a very good team."

Despite their best efforts, however, Nelson County took charge and ran out the clock when it mattered, even scoring a late touchdown to make the final score seem more lopsided than the game actually was.

In the end, NR-S fell by a score of 36-23 - not the start the Rockets were looking for. NR-S attempted to get their season on track in their home opener against North Border on Friday.

9-Man

Non Region Football

Friday, Aug. 19

NR-S 23, NC 36

NR-S: 8 0 6 8 = 22

NC: 0 16 6 14 = 36

First Quarter:

NR-S: Easton Benz 39-yard pass from Bennett Meier (Connor Knatterud run for two-point conversion)

Second Quarter:

NC: 76-yard pass (two point conversion good)

Third quarter:

NC: 14-yard pass (failed two point conversion)