The Roland-Story Norsemen football team returned to action on Friday night, as they hosted the Lions of Des Moines Christian in Class 2A, District 8 action for senior night at Kerry Van Winkle Field in Story City. Roland-Story entered at 4-2 and ranked #8, while Des Moines Christian also entered at 4-2 and ranked #10.
Des Moines Christian took the football first, but their opening drive resulted in a three-and-out. From there, Roland-Story was able to march down the field, and faced with a 4th and medium inside the 25, Sam Knoll went up top to Luke Thoreson for a 24-yard touchdown pass to put Roland-Story up 7-0. Des Moines Christian answered back at the end of the 1st quarter, capping a long drive of their own with a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jett Each to tie the score at 7-7. Neither team got much footing for much of the 2nd quarter, but a long, time-consuming drive by Roland-Story took 6 minutes off the clock as Ben Mazyck scored from a yard out with a minute left to put the Norsemen up 14-7. However, the Lions marched down the field quickly, and scored on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Jett Each to John Doohen with 13 seconds left to tie the game at 14-14 at halftime.
Both teams would trade turnovers on downs to start the 2nd half, before Roland-Story put together a big drive, capped off by a 22-yard touchdown pass from Sam Knoll to Heston McIlrath to put Roland-Story up 21-14. The Norsemen defense continued to step up and make plays, getting the football back time and again. Roland-Story put together a run-heavy drive in the 4th quarter, which was capped off by a Cody Long 13-yard touchdown run with 2 minutes left to give Roland-Story a 28-14 lead. Des Moines Christian answered quick with a pass-heavy drive capped off by a short Davis Tokheim touchdown run to make it 28-21, but Roland-Story recovered the kick and ran out the clock for a 28-21 victory.
The KQWC Player(s) of the Game was the Roland-Story offensive line, who churned up 224 rushing yards against a talented Lions front seven. Ben Mazyck finished with 127 yards and a touchdown, while Cody Long finished with 97 yards and a touchdown. Sam Knoll would go 7-11 with 82 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Roland-Story football returns to action on Friday, when they wrap up the regular season with a road trip to Saydel to take on the Eagles in Class 2A, District 8 action, beginning at 7:30 PM.