STERLING — Rochelle Junior Tackle kicked off the 2021 season against Sterling on Saturday, with all four teams emerging victorious. Rochelle’s eighth-graders defeated Sterling 24-0 while the seventh-graders won over Sterling 30-22. The sixth-graders took down Sterling 36-6 and the fifth-graders earned a 24-14 victory. Rochelle will host Princeton on Saturday, Aug. 21.

8^th Grade

Rochelle took the early lead against Sterling in the first quarter, when Roman Villalobos broke through the middle of the offensive line for a 26-yard touchdown rush. Gavin Neale kept the Junior Hubs moving on their next drive, recording a 12-yard run before Brode Metzger followed with a 17-yard rush of his own. Villalobos scored on a 12-yard rush in the second quarter to give Rochelle a 14-0 lead, with the Junior Hubs adding the 2-point conversion shortly after.

Leading 16-0 in the second quarter, Metzger added a 15-yard run on the ground, while Van Gerber stepped up with a sack on the defensive side of the ball. After Metzger connected with Neale on a 40-yard pass in the third quarter, Neale scampered for a 28-yard rush and Metzger scored on a 4-yard rush. Rochelle then added the 2-point conversion to take a 24-0 lead.

Villalobos led the Rochelle offense with 52 rushing yards and two touchdowns on seven carries. Metzger totaled seven tackles on defense, while Villalobos recorded 6.5 tackles.

7^th Grade

Tyler Gensler put Rochelle ahead on a 1-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter. Dylan Manning shined on offense for the Junior Hubs, recording a 19-yard rush during the second quarter before Brody Bruns added a 10-yard run and a 15-yard run on the ground. Manning broke an 8-8 tie in the second quarter with a 10-yard rushing touchdown for Rochelle.

Manning broke off a 15-yard run and an 11-yard run later in the second quarter before hauling in an 18-yard reception from Bruns. With Rochelle leading 16-8, Bruns kept the ball on the ground for a 5-yard touchdown rush. The Junior Hubs held a 22-8 advantage at halftime.

Bobby Tourdot opened the second half with a 12-yard rush in the third quarter before Manning carried the ball for 14 yards and then scored on a 5-yard rush soon after. Owen Miller added a 12-yard run during the fourth quarter. Manning finished the game with 129 rushing yards, while Bruns totaled four tackles and Miller added three tackles. Adam Cobos had one sack.

6^th Grade

Luke Chadwick sparked the Rochelle offense in the first quarter, breaking off a 48-yard run before scoring on a 4-yard rushing touchdown. Chadwick then added a 16-yard run and Bo Lundquist cashed the drive in with a 7-yard rushing touchdown. Rochelle led 14-0 entering the second quarter, where Tyson Pavlak sacked the Sterling ball carrier in the end zone for a safety. Lundquist’s 27-yard touchdown run helped Rochelle take a 22-0 lead in the second quarter.

Cohen Haedt emerged with a 31-yard rush late in the second quarter. Chadwick’s 27-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter and Lundquist’s 39-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter sealed the road victory for Rochelle. Chadwick ended the game with a team-high 159 rushing yards on 12 carries, while Lundquist added 101 rushing yards on seven carries. Andrew Eyster recorded 4.5 tackles and one sack on defense, with Zachary Johnson adding five tackles.

5^th Grade

Braxton Bruns started strong for the Rochelle offense in the first quarter, sprinting outside for an 18-yard gain before scoring on a 24-yard touchdown rush. Leading 6-0, Rochelle extended its advantage when Bruns returned an interception 71 yards for a touchdown. Sterling tied the game with two touchdowns in the second quarter to make it a 12-12 game in the first half.

Bruns wasn’t done, however, with the fifth-grader breaking off another run outside the tackles and scooting 55 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. With Rochelle ahead 18-12, Nolan Zick intercepted a Sterling pass near the sideline and returned the ball 70 yards for a touchdown, Rochelle’s second of the afternoon on the defensive side. Bruns led the Junior Hubs with 139 rushing yards as well as 12 tackles on defense. Vinny Tornabene added three tackles.