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Rocori rides two early touchdowns to victory over Hutchinson

By Trevor Squire, SportsEngine, 10/13/17, 10:00AM CDT

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Spartans quarterback Mason Primus threw a pair of touchdown passes.



A mob of Spartan defenders tackle a Hutchinson runner during Rocori's 16-7 win over the Tigers at Rocori High School on Friday night. Photo by Trevor Squire, SportsEngine


Quarterback Mason Primus (right) threw two touchdowns in Rocori's 16-7 win over Hutchinson on Friday night. Photo by Trevor Squire, SportsEngine

Rocori coach Mike Rowe stressed to his players to get an early jump on a Hutchinson team that had just posted a season-high 54 points a week ago.

“These are two good teams who are both going to come out here hard,” Rowe said at William J. Virant Football Field in Cold Spring. “We’re going to need a fast start.”

Quarterback Mason Primus provided that spark by delivering two touchdown strikes on the Spartans’ first two drives en route to a 16-7 win over the Tigers.

Rocori, ranked fifth in the Class 4A Associated Press poll, clinched a share of the North Central White subdistrict title after dealing No. 4-4A Hutchinson its first regular season loss in three years.

Primus threw both of his TD passes on fourth down, finding Jesse Huber and Dalton Thelen in the back of the end zone in the first quarter. He completed his first five pass attempts.

Despite the fast start, the game was largely a defensive gridlock with both teams unable to score any points in the second half. The Spartans (7-0, 5-0) held Hutchinson to just 89 yards of total offense. 

Rocori did, however, allow one blemish as the Tigers’ dynamic receiver, Maguire Petersen, took the top off the defense and caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Lane Glaser in the second quarter. 

The Spartans fumbled the ball twice in the third quarter, which led to two lengthy drives by Hutchinson (6-1, 5-1). However, the Tigers couldn’t find the end zone on either posession as Rocori’s defense, which has allowed just 10.1 points per game, didn’t break inside the 20-yard line.

Hutchinson had one final chance to close in on the Spartans, but Jordan Pemble picked off Glaser in the final minute of play to secure Rocori the victory.

Tigers running back Josiah Nelson was held to just 3.6 yards per rush, finishing the game with 83 yards on 23 carries.

Rowe said his team remaining unbeaten was a testament to his defense’s calm while under pressure.

“Playing in big moments with all the media attention, it’s good to see how guys respond to the pressure,” Rowe said.

First Report

Mason Primus provided an early spark for Rocori, throwing two touchdowns in the first quarter, which was enough for the Spartans to clinch a 16-7 win over North Central White subdistrict foe Hutchinson on Friday night at Rocori High School in Cold Spring.

Ranked fifth in the Class 4A Associated Press poll, the Spartans overcame three fumbles to deal the No. 4-5A Tigers their first regular season loss in three years.

Primus found both Jesse Huber and Dalton Thelen on fourth down touchdown conversions on Rocori's (7-0, 5-0) first two drives of the game.

Josiah Nelson led Hutchinson (6-1, 5-1) with 83 rushing yards on 23 carries. Quarterback Lane Glaser connected with Maguire Petersen for a 19-yard touchdown in the second quarter for the Tigers' lone score.

Rocori can clinch the league title outright with a win over Willmar next Wednesday.
 

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