In August, if you would’ve told Rushford-Peterson (12-1) football that they’d play for a state title, they’d have naturally been all in. A few days in late November will sting a bit for the Trojans. They got to the Class A state title game and came up a bit short. From pre-season section contenders to state title game competitors was a great ride, a great achievement. On the wings of a few solid R-P football years, Davin Thompson’s athletic, tough, and scrappy bunch, and their supremely talented running back, re-affirmed, re-established the program as a state power. They guys grabbed R-P (football and athletically) another big-time banner.
R-P’s state title game foe, Minneapolis-North (13-0), proved their ranking, their hype. Last year’s Class A runner-up was touted as better than a season ago, because they were a team (not reliant on standout, current Gopher, Tyler Johnson). Ranked #2 all season, North became the heir apparent when defending state champion #1 Minneota fell in the sections. Yet, it was R-P that fired the first shot. On the games second play, Noah Carlson found a hole, made a cut, a spin, and was gone. His 74-yard TD run made it 7-0. North replied with a 12-play, 63 yard drive. A Luke Rasmussen interception in the end zone ended the threat. But the Polars’ ability to move the ball was an omen. Their next offensive series covered 58 yards in nine plays. Senior quarterback Azerick Rodgers was 4-for-4 for 60 yards. The last completion was a 13-yard TD to Taylor Johnson. With conversion, North went ahead 8-7. R-P then drove, but Carlson ran into 6’3” 230-pound Phillip Scott, who forced a fumble. T-Johnson picked it up and sprinted 61-yards for a fumble recovery TD. With 2-pointer, North went up 16-7. Midway thru the second, R-P stopped North on downs near mid-field. Four plays later, they faced 4th and three and the North 11. Landon Skalet lofted a pass toward the pylon, Carlson made a leaping grab, and then was walloped into the end zone. Jake Paulson’s PAT closed the lead to 16-14. With 0:52 left in the half, the Polars stayed aggressive, only to lose a fumble on a roll-out pass (Carter Weidemann recovery). R-P was in business at the North 12. They made the one very late (0:10). Skalet was then tripped up by his own player while coming out from under center. With no timeouts, timed expired. An opportunity was missed. The Trojans went to half down 16-14.
The second stanza saw R-P get a three-and-out defensively, then a first down offensively, only to punt. From there on, the Polars controlled things. They went on a 14-play, 86-yard, and six-plus-minute drive. Kehyan Porter’s 8-yard TD run made it 22-14. The 2-point pass, good on replay, was ruled no good, keeping it a one-possession game. The missed call wouldn’t matter. R-P’s first three drives of the second half had a combined 11 plays. They ran 13 total second half offensive plays. The Polars had two double digit scoring drives. Time of possession in the second was 14:54 (North) to 7:19 (RP). R-P defensively just couldn’t get off the field. The game-clinching drive was a 13-play, 51-yarder in the fourth. A Rodgers to Corleon Powell 13-yard TD pass on 4th and goal iced the game with 2:19 left. By a final of 30-14, North was crowned Class A state champions.
They used speed, size, and depth of talent to grab their title. Quarterback Azerick Rodgers (10-13, 115 yards, 2 TDs, INT, two 2-pointers passing, 12-60 rushing) led the way. Three other Polars had at least 70 yards offense; Nazir El-Amin (11-70 rushing, 4-35 receiving), Isaac Johnson (4-54 receiving, 4-25 rushing), and Jamin Smith (10-78 rushing). Porter (14-42, TD rushing), Powell (13-yard TD reception), and T-Johnson (13-yard TD reception, 61-yard FR TD) provided the scores. Phillip Scott (6’3” 230”), Nate Wheeler (5’7” 270), and Odell Wilson (6’5” 230) helped control the trenches. R-P turned to their stand-out, Carlson. He was still the best player on the field (27-161, TD rushing; 11-yard TD reception, 1-1, 32 yards passing). He had 27 of R-P’s 32 carries, threw one of the Trojans’ completions, and caught the other. Rasmussen had a 32-yard reception, an interception. Dawson Dahl had a team-high nine tackles. The Trojans highlight-filled State Runner-Up season ends at 12-2. It’s their best finish since the 2006 13-1 state title team. It’s their fifth straight winning season under Davin Thompson. Carlson had one of the best individual seasons in Minnesota history (See AOTW). He and his classmates, Landon Goree (RB/LB), Spencer Majerus (RB/LB), Rasmussen (WR/CB), McCoy Tekautz (DT/RB), Preston Lecy (OL/DL), Austin Brand (OL/DL), Jordy Markegard (OL/DL), and Ethan Anderson (OL/DL), go out following an epic senior season.