ROCKTON — Three out of four Rochelle Jr. Tackle teams played in Rockton this past Saturday with the fifth-grade squad notching its fifth straight victory of the season with a 26-0 shutout win.
Rochelle’s seventh grade team lost a thriller by the score of 16-14, while the sixth grade squad also was narrowly edged out 14-12 by Rockton.
The eighth grade team did not play due to Rockton not having an eighth grade team, so Rochelle was awarded a forfeit win and moves to 3-2 on the season.
Another win
Rochelle got off to a great start in the fifth grade game as Brody Bruns ran for a 35-yard touchdown on the first offense snap of the game.
Leading 6-0 in the second quarter, Rochelle’s Dylan Manning scored on a nifty 15-yard run, followed up by a two-point conversion pass from Bruns to Bobby Tourdot to give Rochelle a 14-0 lead.
Right before the half, Jonathan Andrist recovered a fumble on a dropped snap which led to a 12-yard TD run by Bruns two plays later to put Rochelle up 20-0 at the half.

Rockton went to the air in the third quarter to try to get back into the game, but a pass was intercepted by Justin DeClerck. One play later, Manning was off to the races for a 77-yard touchdown scamper that closed the door on Rockton as Rochelle cruised to a 26-0 victory.
Close game
Rockton jumped out in front early and held on to defeat Rochelle’s seventh grade team 14-12 on Saturday.
A 25-yard TD run in the first quarter put Rockton up 6-0, and a a 73-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion put the hosts up 14-0.
Rochelle answered back with a 3-yard TD run by Caden Goodwin late in the second period to close the gap to 14-6 at intermission.
Late in the third quarter Gavin Neale intercepted Rockton’s pass at the Rochelle 28-yard line and and took it back 22 yards to midfield. Four plays later Goodwin scored again on a 19-yard TD run. Unfortunately, the two-point conversion was no good and Rockton held onto a slim lead.
Rochelle stopped Rockton late in the fourth quarter but Rochelle turned the ball over with a minute play which allowed the hosts to run out the clock and take the win.
Thriller
Rochelle drew first blood in the second quarter on a seven-yard TD run by Ethan Goodwin. Grant Gensler ran in the two-point conversion to give Rochelle an early 8-0 lead.
Rockton quickly struck back with a 37-yard TD run and a two-point conversion to knot things up 8-8 at halftime.
Rochelle had Rockton against the wall in the fourth quarter with a fourth down and 5 on the 40-yard line, but the hosts stunned Rochelle with a 40-yard pass completion for a TD. The two-point conversion run was good and Rockton went up 16-8.
Rochelle didn’t go away quietly though, and with just seven seconds left in the game on fourth down and 1 from the 7-yard line, Ryan Senne dodged up the middle for 2-yard gain and a first down. After Rochelle quarterback Carson Lewis spiked the ball to stop the clock, Grant Gensler took a handoff and went around end for a five-yard TD run. Rockton blitzed on the two-point conversion and a linebacker met Gensler in the backfield to stop the play short and give Rockton a 16-14 win.
Rochelle’s seventh grade team moves to 3-1-1 on the season.
All games this Saturday are home games and will be played at Helms Field.