Rockets end regular season undefeated

For the second consecutive year, the New Rockford-Sheyenne/Maddock Rockets have gone undefeated in the regular season.

After taking down the Hatton/Northwood Thunder on Friday, Oct. 11, the Rockets now boast another perfect 8-0 record, and will gear up for the playoffs as one of this year’s favorites to win it all.

Beginning Friday’s Homecoming game with possession, the Rockets took exactly twice as long to score on offense than they did three days earlier – not scoring their first touchdown this time until the second play from scrimmage.

The first play was a 36-yard screen pass from Easton Simon to Paxton Neppl, which was followed by a 19-yard touchdown run by Carter Engebretson, who then kicked an extra point to open a 7-point lead.

The Thunder managed a first down on their following drive, but didn't go much further than that, and NR-S/M was soon marching down the field yet again.

Their second drive of the day was more methodical than most, featuring several good runs from Engebretson and multiple catches for Kage Walford, including a 15-yard touchdown pass to make it 13-0 with 5:31 left in the first quarter.

To cut a long story short, the NR-S/M defense kept the Thunder from accomplishing much of anything on their next several drives, thanks in large part to their pass rush which featured Engebretson and Alex Weisenburger racking up multiple sacks.

Meanwhile, the touchdowns didn’t stop on offense. Engebretson scored yet again in the first quarter, which was followed by a pick-6 on defense from Bennett Meier. Even NR-S sophomore Thomas Allmaras scored a 29-yard touchdown early in the second quarter.

And just before halftime, NR-S senior Brody Weisenburger caught a rugby punt and went on a run. He bulldozed a path through the offense and left several players in his wake, before a penalty erased most of his hard work.

Just one play later, however, Meier completed a 46-yard touchdown pass to capitalize on the turnover.

The score going into halftime was 47-8 in the Rockets’ favor, and it was clear that only time stood between them and another perfect season.

As per usual, the junior varsity crew ended up managing things as the score continued to get out of hand, ultimately closing out a 61-8 victory for the Rockets.

The 2024 season can now be added to the list of several undefeated seasons in Rockets’ history, including 1998, 2003, 2004, 2012, 2018 and of course, 2023.

Since September of 2022, when New Rockford-Sheyenne and Maddock Public School agreed to a football co-op, the Rockets have amassed 18 wins and just a single loss, which came in last year’s semifinal.

By all accounts, this regular season was more dominant than last year’s, and the Rockets will be hoping that trend continues in the playoffs.

They’re hopes are undoubtedly set on advancing at least one game further than last season and into the vaunted Fargodome. But first they’ll have to face some tough opponents in this year’s playoffs, which will almost definitely feature other undefeated squads.

Helping them on their journey will likely be a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the playoff bracket, which would guarantee home field advantage throughout.

As the Region 3 Champions, they’ve already guaranteed themselves a first round bye and at least one home playoff game, which will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26 in New Rockford.

Bracket information and stats from Friday’s game will be included in the Oct. 21 edition of the New Rockford Transcript.

Elsewhere in 9-man football, No. 1 LaMoure-Litchville/Marion took care of business against Sargent County with a 53-0 victory, and No. 3 Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn took down Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood 68-26.

In the closely watched game between No. 4 Linton/HMB and No. 5 Central McLean, it was Linton that ended up with a fairly comfortable 38-22 victory.