Junior Tackle: Rochelle splits series with Byron

Fifth-graders remain undefeated, eighth-graders score fourth victory

Russell Hodges
Posted 9/21/21

The Rochelle Junior Tackle teams split their four-game series against Byron on Saturday. The fifth-graders remained unbeaten on the season, while the eighth-graders picked up their fourth victory to match the sixth and seventh-grade teams, which each lost over the weekend. Rochelle will return home and face Rockton at home on Saturday, Sept. 25.

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Junior Tackle: Rochelle splits series with Byron

Fifth-graders remain undefeated, eighth-graders score fourth victory

Posted

BYRON — The Rochelle Junior Tackle teams split their four-game series against Byron on Saturday. The fifth-graders remained unbeaten on the season, while the eighth-graders picked up their fourth victory to match the sixth and seventh-grade teams, which each lost over the weekend. Rochelle will return home and face Rockton at home on Saturday, Sept. 25.

8th Grade (4-1)

The Junior Hubs dominated the first quarter, with Brode Metzger breaking off a 43-yard touchdown run for the first score of the afternoon. Leading 6-0, Rochelle extended its lead when Gavin Neale rushed for a 47-yard touchdown and Metzger added the 2-point conversion.

Roman Villalobos found the end zone on a 2-yard touchdown run to help the Junior Hubs surge ahead in the second quarter. Rochelle held a 20-0 advantage over Byron at halftime, with Villalobos adding a second touchdown run on a 3-yard rush in the third quarter. Byron avoided the shutout with a 30-yard touchdown run later in the third quarter, but the Junior Hubs answered on Metzger’s 15-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

Rochelle defeated Byron by a final score of 34-6. Neale led the Junior Hubs with 107 yards on 11 carries, while Villalobos rushed for 89 yards on 14 carries. Metzger ran for 88 yards on seven carries and added two receptions for 48 yards. Rochelle totaled four tackles for loss.

Andrist 

7th Grade (5-1)

Angel Argueta recovered a fumble for Rochelle on the second play of the game. The Junior Hubs scored later in the first quarter, with Jonathan Andrist plunging forward for a 5-yard touchdown run to give Rochelle the early lead. Byron jumped ahead with a 1-yard touchdown run and successful 2-point play during the second quarter. Leading 8-6, Byron extended its lead later in the second quarter with a 66-yard touchdown run and another 2-point play.

Both teams recovered fumbles in the third quarter, with Keegan Cathina snagging a fumble for the Junior Hubs. The turnover helped set up a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown from Dylan Manning that brought Rochelle within one score. But the Junior Hubs were unable to come back, with Byron scoring on a 3-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. Rochelle fell by a final score of 28-12. The Junior Hubs will receive a forfeit over Rockton this coming weekend.

 Eyster

6th Grade (4-1)

The Junior Hubs took the lead in the first quarter, scoring on a 65-yard rushing touchdown from Luke Chadwick before Cohen Haedt ran for the 2-point conversion. Byron tied the game at 8-8 later in the first quarter and then returned a fumble for a touchdown to take the lead in the second quarter. Rochelle evened the game soon after with Haedt’s 1-yard rushing touchdown.

Byron regained the lead with a 65-yard rushing touchdown, with both teams going scoreless over the third and fourth quarters. Rochelle fell by a final score of 22-14, with Haedt completing four passes for 67 yards. Holden Liebhaber caught three balls for 61 yards, while Chadwick totaled a team-high 111 rushing yards on 10 carries. Andrew Eyster and Elijah Schweitzer each recorded two tackles for loss in the game. Dominick Joyce added three tackles.

Tornabene

5th Grade (5-0)

The fifth-graders plowed ahead in the first quarter, scoring on a 66-yard rushing touchdown from Braxton Bruns on the third play of the game. Riley Smith threw a 2-point pass to Joey Chadwick soon after to put the Junior Hubs ahead 8-0. Bruns rushed for a 43-yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter to extend Rochelle’s lead over Byron to 14-0. Byron scored on a 44-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, but the Junior Hubs held on in the fourth quarter, winning by a final score of 14-8 to stay perfect on the season.