R-P football usually has a pretty darn good running back. This season, senior Triton Meldahl has used his speed to fly around/past foes. The 5’11” 160-pounder capped a huge regular season, helping the Trojans to a wild win over Hayfield. Triton notched career highs with 289 yards and 5 TDs on 28 carries (scores of 24, 40, 17, 73, and 71 yards). Despite that, the game was a fight. The Trojans led 13-0 and 20-7 in the first half, only for the Vikings to pull to within 13-7 and 20-15. The R-P lead was 26-15 at intermission. Meldahl’s fourth TD (73 yards) made it 32-15 in the third. Hayfield then got a good kick-off return, setting up a 6-play, 49-yard drive. Karver Heydt’s 1-yard TD run (plus conversion) made it 32-23. R-P fumbled the ensuing kick-off. Hayfield was stopped in the red zone. Later, Viking Dawson Andree returned a punt 78 yards to pay-dirt to make the score 32-29. In the fourth, Hayfield muffed a punt in R-P territory. Two plays later, Meldahl scored from 71 yards, finally giving R-P a firm grip. Davin Thompson’s group prevailed, 38-29. Malachi Bunke (10-17, 95 yards TD, INT), Justin Ruberg (4-64 receiving), and Vinnie Mason (3-yard TD reception) helped the Trojan cause. Brady Nelson (24-51, 249 yards, 2 TDs passing) led a mostly aerial Viking attack. Patrick Towey (8-101, 2 TDs receiving) was his top receiver. Five Vikings had at least two receptions. R-P had 300-plus yards rushing, Hayfield 30. The Trojans (3-1, 6-2) finish second in the MSE-East to L-A (4-0, 8-0). R-P is 1A’s 2-seed and will host 7-seed W-K (1-7). Second-ranked BP (8-0) is the 1-seed.
289 & 5 Leads R-P to #2
