Speedy Trojans Down Falcons

In was one of the marquee week two football match-ups, hopeful section contenders #10 in Class A (tie) FC (1-0) and #8 in Class A R-P (1-0) battled a great battle down to the wire. One team’s fast playmakers were the difference. The Trojans came out fired up on their (sloppy wet) home field. They remembered last year’s 33-0 loss. For almost a half, the Trojans controlled the action. Senior running back Noah Carlson did something he doesn’t often do and used his arm to affect the game. His perfect 23-yard half-back pass to Lukas Rasmussen put R-P up 6-0 early. A series late (in the second), Carlson ran one in from 1-yard TD (on fourth a goal) to make it 12-0. Meanwhile, FC’s offense tallied just one first down. Finally, on their last drive of the half, Riley Means hooked up with Sam Rustad on a couple passing plays. FC went from five to 11 (84 yards). On fourth and seven from the eleven, Rasmussen intercepted a Means to Rustad pass in the end zone. R-P took its 12-0 lead to half. The drive, though, gained the Falcons some fire. They took their opening second half possessions 67 yards in twelve plays. A 5-yard Means to Charlie Jones TD pass, plus 2-point pass to Josh Peters, made it game on at 12-8. FC’s defense then held down Carlson. After a 17-carry, 117-yard first half, he went 34 yards on his first 14 second half totes. Included was his first for-loss run of the season (rushing attempt 43). FC had a what-could-a-been moment in the third. A 26-yard Means to Rustad pass to the R-P 15 was wiped away (illegal formation). Field position was on FC’s side all second half. Five of six possessions started in or made R-P territory. With 2:53 left, the Falcons began first and ten at the Trojan 48. But the key series’ first play was a failed half-back pass. Rasmussen, not as speedy as Carlson but swift in his own right, burned on the play, regrouped to run down his third interception of the game. Three plays later, on third and five from the R-P 15 (2:00), an up-field rush too far, a resultant hole, and a missed tackle allowed Carlson (on his 15th carry of the half) to go 85 yards to ice the game. The Trojans grabbed a big early season win 18-8. Carlson (32-235, 2 TDs rushing, 1-1, 24-yards, TD passing) and Rasmussen (24-yard TD reception, three interceptions) led the way. A season ago, Noah had 20 rushing yards versus FC. Picks by Dawson Dahl and Landon Goree ran R-P’s interception total to five. Means (5-18, 80 yards, TD, 4 INTs passing, 8-42 rushing), Rustad (2-56 receiving, fumble recovery), Josh Peters (11-41 rushing) and Jones (TD receiving) did work for the Falcons. Ryli Tostenson forced a fumble, Brady Ristau recovered one, and Sam Peters had an interception. The Trojans out-rushed FC 248 to 123 and won the turnover battle 5 to 3. R-P improved to 1-0, 2-0. FC falls to 0-1, 1-1.