Rocket defense can’t contain Saints in first-round playoff loss
By virtue of its difficult strength of schedule through the regular season, the 5-4 Spencer-Columbus Rockets earned a #3 seeding in the WIAA Division 5 playoff field, and a first-round home game against the 6-3 Saint Croix Falls Saints. Once the teams got on the field on Oct. 22, none of that stuff mattered.
Saint Croix Falls star running back Dayo Oye ran for 75 yards already in the first quarter, and the Rocket defense was never able to fully stop him in the 35-14 loss to the Saints. The Rockets were able to match Oye’s output through most of the first half, but not much after that.
Oye ended the game with 186 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 49 yards and returned a kickoff for 56 more.
Oye’s running set up the Saints for their first score of the night, a 15-yard run from quarterback Brady Belisle early in the first period. Spencer-Columbus showed why it had the favorable seeding on its first possession, as it drove downfield and scored, as well, on Brock Bennington’s 4-yard run at the 7:06 mark of the first period. Bennington drilled the point-after kick to tie the game at 7-7.
Although Oye returned the ensuing kickoff to the Rocket 25-yard line, the Spencer-Columbus defense was able to hold and took the ball back on downs at its own 15. The offense could not move the ball, and the Rockets punted it away Saint Croix Falls went to a gadget play on its next possession. Belisle connected with Bryn Gouker for a short pass completion, but he pitched to Oye racing by on a hook-and-ladder play for the 34-yard touchdown. The point-after kick put the Saints ahead 14-7 at the half.
Spencer-Columbus tied the game again in the third period, driving 55 yards on 11 plays. Bennington scored on a fourth-and-6 play, as he broke a tackle on initial contact but kept his balance and carried it to the end zone from 23 yards out. He again tied the score with a point-after kick.
Saint Croix Falls took charge from that juncture. On its next possession, Oye completed a 60-yard, 4-play drive with a 25-yard touchdown run with 3:16 left in the third quarter. Spencer-Columbus fumbled on the third play of its next possession to hand the ball back over at the Rocket 36-yard line. The Saint offense drove deep into Spencer-Columbus territory, but was denied. On a fourth-and-seven play, Belisle fired a pass into the end zone that was broken up nicely by Rocket defensive back Isaac Mauritz.
That gave Spencer-Columbus possession at its own 10yard line. Cole Timmler’s second-down pass was picked off and returned to the Rocket 10-yard-line. Oye took it from there, scoring the touchdown with 7:40 left in the game and a 28-14 lead.
Spencer-Columbus managed two first downs on its next drive, but eventually turned it over on downs at the Saint 40-yard-line. Oye sealed the outcome of the game with a 46-yard touchdown run with 3:19 left to play The Saint offense produced 324 yards on the night, compared to 224 for Spencer-Columbus. The Saints ran for 237 yards on 35 attempts, and picked up 87 yards through the air on 8-14 passing.
Spencer-Columbus ran 41 times for 224 yards. Bennington ran for 112 yards on 17 carries and Will Gorst added 74 yards on 14 attempts. Timmler threw eight times, with one completion for no gain.
Gorst, Xane Adler and Sullivan Melander each had five solo tackles and an assist for the defense.
Rocket head coach Jason Gorst said his team’s season came to an end at the hands of a strong opponent.
“Hats off to Saint Croix Falls. They were well-coached and a very good team,” Gorst said. “I am proud of our guys for the season they had. Our seniors did a great job of keeping things going during a pandemic.”
Four Spencer-Columbus tacklers converge on Saint Croix Falls running back Dayo Oye during the Rockets’ 35-14 loss to the Saints in an Oct. 22 WIAA Division 5 Level One playoff game in Spencer. The Rockets had difficulty all night containing Oye, who rushed for 186 yards and three touchdowns.
DEAN LESAR/STAFF PHOTO
