COLD SPRING - The Willmar Cardinals jumped on Rocori early and often in a weather delayed game that ended at 11:28 p.m. and the scoreboard showing a 56-13 final.
Willmar (3-1, 5-2), which will have a home playoff game on Oct. 22, concludes the CLC schedule Wednesday hosting St. Cloud Tech (3-1, 5-2). The Tigers fell 21-6 to resurgent St. Cloud Apollo (4-0, 6-1) to clinch the CLC South Division outright.
At 7:24 p.m. the game was stopped due to lightning. Willmar had fourth-and-goal at the Rocori 11 with 3:48 left in the opening quarter. The game resumed at 9:46 p.m. after the last of the 30-minute lightning stops. Quarterback Auggie Hahn threw incomplete to the end zone and Rocori took over but the game was underway again.
Senior safety Tyler Stegeman set up two early touchdowns for the visitors, each time jumping a route to make an interception. The first, on the game’s opening series, set the offense up at the Spartan 21.
Hahn ran for 16 yards and then Michael Heitzman took two carries to go the last five.
ADVERTISEMENT
Pressure by inside linebacker Vaughn Johnson forced an errant throw that Stegeman nabbed and Willmar was in business at the Rocori 41. After a couple of first down, Hahn hit sophomore wing back Colten Carlson on a 14-yard scoring play, the second varsity catch for the full-time linebacker and his first touchdown.
Before the quarter ended, Hahn bucked in from the one to end a 39-yard drive. The key play - a 35-yard pass play to wide-out Chris Cunningham.
Hahn scored again, from the 3, on the third play of the second quarter for a 28-0 bulge. The key play a 45-yard screen to Heitzman from midfield.
Heitzman ran for 3 scores and caught a pass for another.
The third quarter ended with Willmar up 49-6 at 11:10 p.m. The game closed out with Willmar reserves playing the fourth quarter.
Willmar 56, Rocori 13
Willmar (3-1, 5-2) 21 21 7 7 - 56
Rocori (0-4, 1-6) 0 0 6 7 - 13
ADVERTISEMENT
W – Michael Heitzman 1 run (Max Trochlil kick)
W – Colten Carlson 14 pass from Auggie Hahn (Trochlil)
W – Hahn 1 run (Trochlil kick)
W – Hahn 3 run (Trochlil kick)
W – Heitzman pass from Hahn (Trochlil)
W – Heitzman 1 run (Trochlil)
W – Heitzman 2 run (Trochlil kick)
R – Eric Zimmer 37 pass from Skippy Virchow (conversion fail)
ADVERTISEMENT
W – Sam Kerfeld 13 pass from Zach Radermacher (Trochlil kcik)
R – Cole Nelson pass from Virchow (Kick good)
For complete box see Monday’s Tribune.
