Photo courtesy of New Rockford Transcript
NEW ROCKFORD — With wind chills in the teens, the Pirates found a way to make the Rockets sweat.
But, in their closest game since 2023, the Rockets clinched a Dakota Bowl berth for the second straight year. It’ll be the third championship appearance in New Rockford-Sheyenne co-op history and the fifth overall for New Rockford football, going back to 1975.
On Saturday at New Rockford Athletic Field, No. 5-seeded Hankinson (10-2) put up 50 points on the defending state champion, No. 1-seeded New Rockford-Sheyenne/Maddock (12-0). It was the most points the Rockets have allowed in a game since Sept. 23, 2022. But the Rockets outlasted Hankinson’s run game in a 72-50 slugfest — earning a trip back to the Fargodome.
It was the smallest margin of victory for NR-S/M amidst the squad’s 24-game winning streak.
“You can kind of take a deep breath,” Rockets head coach Elliott Belquist said. “Now we can just concentrate on one team here. … Now you just go have fun and see what you can do.”
In a rarity for senior quarterback Easton Simon, he got to play almost the entire game. He collected a whopping 510 passing yards unofficially. He had nearly 350 in the first half alone.
Simon — along with many of the other upperclassmen — was part of the 2023 team that lost in the semifinals. Now, the same kids are looking to defend a state title.
“It’s very exciting with a different crew. A lot of people didn’t think we could do it,” Simon said. “We came in with a lot of guys that didn’t have a lot of experience. And it feels good to get back.”
Running back Jackson Schumacher is also a senior. He found the end zone six different times on Saturday. He totaled 176 rushing yards and 109 receiving yards, with many in the latter category coming after the catch.
“He’s the heart and soul of our team,” Simon said. “If we need energy, he’s the guy that’s gonna get us going.”
The Pirates’ dynamic senior quarterback, Raeshaun Earl, kept them in the game despite not making a single completion in the first half. He did it all with his legs. He had two kick returns for touchdowns, along with an 88-yard touchdown run.
“He’s just a heck of an athlete,” Belquist said.
Earl’s first kick return, a 78-yarder, tied it up at 8-8. The Rockets had scored on their opening possession, as Grant Engebretson found a hole on fourth down and broke for a 17-yard run.
Earl’s other kick return came on a lateral pass that he took to the house. After his 88-yard touchdown on Hankinson’s next possession, NR-S/M only led 28-26. A successful two-point conversion would have tied it.
“Just calm down,” Belquist said of his message to the team. “It’s the first half. … We’ve got another half left here. Calm down and relax.”
Despite Earl and running back Kade Hentz finding ways to carve up the Rockets’ defense, the offensive effort never really ran out of juice. The Rockets got one more score in before halftime, with Engebretson breaking a tackle for a nine-yard touchdown reception.
The lead was a little more comfortable at halftime, at 36-26.
And it could have been even wider. NR-S/M had two long touchdowns called back because of holding penalties. An Allmaras 32-yard touchdown was negated, as was a 38-yard catch-and-run from Schumacher.
“Our kids had to battle through some lows today,” Belquist said. “So that was great to see them fight through that adversity.”
Still, Schumacher and Thomas Allmaras each scored two touchdowns in the first half, while Easton Benz added one. Added to what Schumacher was doing on the ground, it was a well-rounded offensive day with Simon as the symbolic captain of the ship.
“The wide receivers, they all got touches,” Simon said. “All were flying around out there and getting in the end zone.”
Two more touchdowns for Schumacher opened the scoring in the second half. He broke for a 54-yarder, then had back-to-back runs of 25 and 18 yards on the next possession. The Rockets suddenly had double Hankinson’s point total at 52-26.
“That’s huge,” Belquist said. “You see that all your kids just keep battling, and find a way to move the chains and score some more points after all that happened. … A testament to these kids, and the grit of them.”
Earl made a rare completion, a 30-yard pass to Hentz, to get Hankinson back in the points column. The Pirates recovered their own onside kick, but Benz snatched an interception on the next series. A 47-yard reception for Engebretson made it 58-34 Rockets.
After a 70-yard touchdown run by Earl, it was 58-42 at the end of the third quarter.
Schumacher scored the final two Rocket touchdowns to give them some space to breathe. Passes of 20-plus yards to Allmaras and Benz led to an eight-yard touchdown run. On the final series for NR-S/M’s starters, Schumacher had five carries, including a 44-yarder and a seven-yard touchdown run.
Hankinson still managed one more explosive play — a 45-yard run by Hentz to reach the 50-point plateau.
The Rockets brought their backups in with just under two minutes left. They had a running clock for spurts of the fourth quarter. They ended up settling for a 22-point win.
So now, NR-S/M is right back where it was at this time last year: on its way to the Fargodome, set to face an undefeated LaMoure-Litchville/Marion team.
The Rockets beat the Loboes 62-26 in the state championship last fall. But they’ll have to contend with running back Gunner Thielges, a senior committed to join FCS powerhouse North Dakota State.
“We know they’re gonna come in wanting to get him the ball,” Simon said. “We’ve just gotta be prepared. Be ready.”
Belquist anticipates Thielges being “another one like we saw today, that can break any play.”
“You’re not gonna stop him,” Belquist said. “Find a way for him not to completely tear you apart. Make him work for his yards, and bottle him up when you can.”
Kickoff will be bright and early at 9:10 a.m. inside the Fargodome Friday.
