Eighth-graders win as sixth and fifth-graders suffer first losses

ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Junior Tackle football teams hosted Byron for Week 6 of the Big 14 Conference schedule on Sunday. The Junior Hubs went 1-3 over four games, with the eighth-graders emerging victorious while the sixth and fifth-graders suffered their first losses.

The eighth-graders defeated Byron 30-20 and moved to 5-1 on the season Sunday afternoon. Dylan Manning sparked the Junior Hub offense with a 51-yard touchdown and a 7-yard touchdown, while Keegan Cathina added a 1-yard touchdown rush. Quarterback Brody Bruns connected with Warren Schweitzer for a 6-yard touchdown pass to aid Rochelle in the win.

The seventh-graders dropped to 4-2 on the season with a 30-12 loss to Byron on Sunday. Caiden Redlarczyk and Andrew Eyster each scored touchdowns for the Junior Hubs, with Redlarczyk recording a 60-yard touchdown and Eyster plowing forward for a 1-yard touchdown.

The sixth-graders lost for the first time this season, falling 20-6 against Byron and moving to 5-1 overall. Braxton Bruns scored Rochelle’s lone touchdown, rushing for a 6-yard score.

The fifth-graders also lost for the first time, conceding a 30-12 defeat against Byron to drop to 5-1 on the season. Quentin Ansteth rushed for a 7-yard touchdown and quarterback Maddex Jackson fired a 16-yard touchdown pass to Korbin Milos to ignite the Junior Hub offense.

Rochelle’s Week 7 matchups will be played against Rockton on the road Saturday, Sept. 24.