The Roland-Story Norsemen football team returns to action on Friday night, as the Norsemen make the trip west into Webster County to take on the Jaguars of Southeast Valley in Class 2A, District 8 action. Roland-Story sits at 2-2 after a 42-7 loss to Carroll Kuemper in Week 4, while Southeast Valley sits at 3-1 after their first loss of the season to Des Moines Christian, by a score of 52-12. Friday marks the first meeting between the 2 teams with Southeast Valley’s current incarnation, as Roland-Story last played the former Prairie Valley in 1999.
Southeast Valley has the key pieces settled on the offensive side of the football, starting with quarterback Cale Vansickle. Vansickle has thrown for 407 yards and 2 touchdowns, but 4 interceptions, as he was picked off in the Jaguars loss to DMC. Vansickle is also a threat to run, having rushed for 235 yards on the season, but the main rushing threat is junior Brady Hanson, who has 346 yards and 9 touchdowns on the season. Andrew Miller has been Vansickle’s most explosive target, with 7 receptions for 180 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Logan Jaeschke has a team-high 11 receptions. Senior tight end Jace Hanson has 151 yards off 6 catches and 3 touchdowns, while Ross Larson has 7 catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. The Jaguar offensive line will need to perform better this week, after allowing 4 sacks against DMC.
Defensively, the normally stout Southeast Valley defense was shredded by DMC quarterback Tate Platte a week ago, as Platte went 23-for-32 for 424 yards and 6 touchdowns, but was picked off twice. Junior defensive lineman Preston Kennedy did have a good day for the Jaguars, sacking Platte twice a week ago, and has 3 total sacks on the season. Defensive end Jace Hanson also has 1.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss on the season. The linebacker core has been a prolific one as well, headlined by Brady Hanson, who has 19 tackles, a tackle for loss, 3 interceptions and a pick six. Drew Temple has made plays in the backfield as well, with 18.5 tackles, a sack and 4 tackles for loss, while Cael Vansickle has 3 sacks and 3 tackles for loss as well. Dalton Crouse has spearheaded the defensive backfield, as the safety is the team’s leading tackler with 23.5.
Roland-Story’s offense will look to get back on track following their performance a week ago, in which the Norsemen struggled to move the football against Carroll Kuemper. Hesston Johnson will look for a big bounce-back game, after being held 7 yards on 9 carries a week ago. Sam Knoll will also look to bounce back after going 4-for-11 for just 41 yards. The Norsemen defense was able to get to the quarterback, tallying 3 sacks against the Knights a week ago.
Southeast Valley and Roland-Story will kickoff at 7:30 PM from the Southeast Valley Football Field in Gowrie on Friday night.