The Rochelle Junior Tackle seventh-graders dominated in all phases when they hosted Morrison at Helms Park this past Saturday for their first football game of the 2017 season.
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ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Junior Tackle seventh-graders dominated in all phases when they hosted Morrison at Helms Park this past Saturday for their first football game of the 2017 season.
Four different Rochelle players scored touchdowns in the first half, and the Junior Hubs continued to attack Morrison in the second half, cruising to a 44-6 victory to move to 1-0 on the season.
“It feels great,” head coach Boone Nantz said. “We have all the pieces and we came together as a family. We played tough… The offensive line couldn’t be stopped and our backs ran hard. Our kids were breaking 4 or 5 tackles. It was a total team effort.”
Trey Taft ignited the Rochelle offense with a 30-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to give the Junior Hubs a 6-0 lead, and after Garrett Gensler recovered a Morrison fumble, Gensler plunged forward for a 7-yard rushing score to put Rochelle ahead 12-0.
Antonio Hueramo scored Rochelle’s third touchdown of the game, blazing past a flurry of Morrison defenders in the second quarter to find the end zone from 40 yards out. Cody Stover-Cullum flexed his muscles soon after, breaking several Morrison tackles on a 35-yard touchdown run. Gensler rushed for a 2-point conversion to put the Junior Hubs up 26-6 at halftime.
“The kids did what they were asked to do,” Nantz said. “They played together and they played their roles… Physically we’re there. We just have to get tougher mentally.”
Quarterback Hayden Inman connected with Taft for a 45-yard touchdown pass to increase Rochelle’s lead in the third quarter, and Daniel Monfils showcased his speed on a 62-yard punt return score that put the Junior Hubs ahead 38-6. Morrison’s only offensive threat came in the fourth quarter, but Hisham Abdallah intercepted a pass and returned the ball 90 yards for another Rochelle touchdown.
Breydan Lowery anchored the Rochelle defense with a team-high six tackles, with Felix Schlenbecker and Kyce Jaradat each totaling five tackles. The seventh-graders will face Rockton at home on Saturday, Aug. 19 before hitting the road to play Winnebago on Saturday, Aug. 26.
