Monday night football – Minnesota high school style
With our crazy COVID scheduling, the Rosemount Irish and the Woodbury Royals teed it up for some Monday Night Football – Minnesota high school style. Woodbury played its first game in ten days, and the Irish played its second game in four days. It was another cold night during the ’fall’ season. It became apparent early that the team who was going to win the game was the one who was going to make the least mistakes.
The Irish made the first mistake of the game. After forcing a Woodbury punt, the Irish fumbled the kick. Woodbury’s Ahmed Abdelal came up with the muff and gave the ball back to his team at the Irish 40. After an interference penalty and a completion from quarterback Donald West to Mac Lockner Mac Lockner WR Woodbury | 2021 State MN , Woodbury was set up with a first and goal at the six-yard line. The Rosemount defense would come up big on two of the next three plays. Rosemount came up with a tackle for loss on first down, and on third and goal, Rosemount’s Jake Ratzlaff Jake Ratzlaff 6'2" | LB Rosemount | 2021 State MN came on a safety blitz for a sack. Woodbury would line up for a long field goal, but a bad snap would prevent the kick from even being attempted.
A Jack Bungarden Jack Bungarden 6'2" | LB Woodbury | 2021 State MN sack for Woodbury on third and long forced a Rosemount punt, but excellent coverage by Rosemount’s Christian Graske Christian Graske 5'11" | RB Rosemount | 2021 State MN forced an incompletion on third down – forcing another punt.
Rosemount then started to put together a drive – highlighted by a diving catch by Graske for 15 yards. The drive would stall at the 35-yard line. The Irish were faced with a 4th and five, but Bungarden and Josh Hawksford would combine for a sack. On the very next play, Rosemount’s Vicar Pyne Vicar Pyne 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Rosemount | 2022 State MN picked off a deep crossing route.
Late in the half, Rosemount converted on a fourth and short from mid-field. The Irish would threaten, but the Royals’ Zach Cartier picked off a pass to end any remaining offensive threat in the first half.
After a scoreless first half, Rosemount’s offense was the first to put points on the board. The opening drive of the second half covered 55 yards and ended in a 22-yard field goal by Leyton Simmering Leyton Simmering 6'1" | 155 lbs | K Rosemount | 2022 State MN . The running of Graske set up the kick. After using his cutback ability to pick up a first down, he used a spin move at the scrimmage line to get loose for 30 yards.
On the ensuing kickoff, Rosemount got the biggest break of the game. Woodbury fumbled the kickoff, and the Irish recovery gave the home team the ball at the Woodbury 10. Two plays later, Graske would turn the fumble into points with a seven-yard touchdown run.
Down 9-0, Woodbury answered. Faced with an early fourth and short from the 40, West picked up two and a first down. Three plays later, a screen pass to RJ Altman picked up a first down on third and ten. Woodbury came up huge again on 4th down. They needed eight yards at the 25, and Rosemount got immediate pressure on West. Somehow, he got the pass off and picked up the first down. The Royals were faced with their third fourth down of the drive – this time, they needed twelve. West threw a fade to Lockner for a 17-yard touchdown.
Rosemount would not pick up a first down, giving the Royals the ball back with a chance to win. West was used as the primary runner on the Royals’ final drive. He patiently picked his way through the Irish defense. His quarterback sneak converted another 4th down. However, the Rosemount defense rose up one more time. Woodbury had to convert a 4th and 13, but Miles Townsend Miles Townsend 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Rosemount | 2022 State MN and Erik Budin combined for a sack, giving the ball back to their offense and sealing a hard-fought 9-7 win for the Irish.
Rosemount (2-0) will play its third game in eight days when they travel to Champlin Park, while Woodbury (2-1) will host East Ridge on Friday.