Rosemount junior running back Tyrek Cross missed the first three games this season, including the initial meeting with Eastview.

Making up for an opportunity lost, Cross announced himself as an emerging playmaker Thursday in Rosemount’s already stacked offense. He rushed for two touchdowns as the Irish rolled to a 38-7 victory in a Class 6A state football quarterfinal game at TCF Bank Stadium.

Third-seeded Rosemount (10-1) is unbeaten since losing to Wayzata in double overtime in the season opener. Cross, who sat out after transferring from Wisconsin, improved all season. He earned more carries as he gained knowledge of the offense. His hard-nosed running style was self-taught.

“I’ve always run like that all my life,” Cross said.
Cross got loose for a 40-yard touchdown run to give the Irish a 7-0 lead after the first quarter. Alex Trana booted a 25-yard field goal to make it 10-0. Then Dimitri Williams completed a 35-yard halfback pass to Tyler Hartigan for a touchdown and 17-0 lead.

Though staggered, Eastview (6-5) threw a counterpunch. Running back Will Rains found a hole on third-and-1 and ran 31 yards for a score as Eastview cut Rosemount’s lead to 17-7 at halftime. 

Rosemount blanked Eastview 24-0 on Sept. 6.
For Rosemount, which outscored opponents 269-28 in the first half this season, a 10-point halftime lead was not ideal.

“The first half I don’t think we played our game,” Cross said. “We didn’t play Rosemount football. We had to turn it up a notch.”

What is Rosemount football? Offensive balance comes to mind. And it showed in the third quarter.
Cross, running hard, churned out a 37-yard gain into Eastview’s red zone. One play later, Lowell Green scored on a 15-yard run.
 
On Rosemount’s next possession, quarterback Jackson Erdmann and Williams connected for a 46-yard score and 31-7 lead.

Cross completed the scoring with a 12-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. He carried several would-be Eastview tacklers across the goal line.

KEY OF THE GAME: Leading 17-7 at halftime, Rosemount blew the game open with touchdowns on its first two possessions in the second half. Cross, running hard, churned out a 37-yard gain into Eastview’s red zone. One play later, Lowell Green finished what Cross started with a 15-yard touchdown run. Going through the air on the next possession, quarterback Jackson Erdmann and Dimitri Williams connected for a 46-yard score and 31-7 lead.

QUOTE: “The first half I don’t think we played our game. We didn’t play Rosemount football. We had to turn it up a notch and I think we came out in the third quarter and handed it to them.” -- Rosemount running back Tyrek Cross

ONE THING TO KNOW: Eastview started the season 1-3 but went 5-2 from that point forward. Running back Will Rains, who scored the team’s only touchdown Thursday, was helped off the field just before halftime. He did not play in second half. 

DAVID LA VAQUE