Rosemount, a top seed in the Class 6A state tournament, trailed Centennial by three points with about five minutes left in the game Friday. Less than two minutes and 90 yards later, the Irish took an 18-13 lead that held up as the final score.

On the game-winning scoring drive, senior quarterback Cody Hogan connected on a 50-yard pass with wide receiver Sam Nelson.

“Initially, I underthrew him a little bit,” Hogan said. “He made a great play on the ball. He came back to it.”

That got Hogan’s adrenaline pumping, he said, and he covered the last 40 yards himself over five plays, capped with a 1-yard scoring run with 3:15 on the clock. The two-point conversion was good. The Irish (9-1), playing before a home crowd, recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff to seal it.

“We were all pumped up,” Hogan said. “We were ready to take on the challenge and go get the touchdown.”

Before that, it was Centennial (5-5), a No. 4 seed, playing up to the challenge of a possible upset. After Rosemount kicked a field goal to take a 10-7 lead at halftime, the Cougars opened the second half with a scoring drive of just over six minutes, ending with Keshaun Story’s 2-yard run.

Rosemount is riding a four-game victory streak. Its only loss was against Farmington 28-17 on Oct. 7.

HEATHER RULE

Trailing by three points with about five minutes left in the game, Rosemount mounted a quick 90-yard scoring drive to take the lead 18-13 over Centennial on Friday. A fumbled kickoff later and the Irish advanced in the second round of the Class 6A state tournament.

The Irish, playing at home, got the ball with 5:01 left on the clock and started at their own 10-yard line. Senior quarterback Cody Hogan connected for a 50-yard pass with Sam Nelson, then Hogan ran the last 40 yards himself over five plays, finishing with a 1-yard run into the end zone. The two-point conversion was good.

Rosemount sealed the game with a fumble recovery on the kickoff.

In the first quarter, the teams exchanged punts until Rosemount’s Hogan connected with Connor Kleiber for a 62-yard pass. It set up the game’s first touchdown in the closing seconds of the first quarter.

The Cougars capitalized on an Irish fumble near midfield in the second quarter. They drove down the field and capped the drive with a spectacular 21-yard touchdown reception from Keshaun Story. With two Irish defenders on him in the corner of the end zone, Story leaped up and brought the ball down with him.

Rosemount got the ball back and re-gained the lead with a 31-yard field goal from Kenny Watkins to go into halftime up 10-7.

Rosemount is riding a four-game win streak. Its only loss was a 28-17 game against Farmington Oct. 7. 

Check back later for more on the game.