Rosemount’s defense dominates – completes an undefeated season

I wasn’t planning on covering a game tonight, but when – at the last minute – my son wanted to watch a game, who was I to say no. So, we found the Rosemount and East Ridge game online. Because we got going late, we missed most of the first quarter. However, we settled in just in time to see the Rosemount Irish’s 25-point 2nd quarter explosion. That was more than enough offense for the Irish defense, who was the story of the game in a 42-0 victory for the undefeated Irish.

The Irish defense was stifling in the first quarter. According to the announcer, the Raptors only had one offensive play for more than one yard. The Irish offense put together two strong first-quarter drives. The first resulted in a 43-yard Leyton Simmering Leyton Simmering 6'1" | 155 lbs | K Rosemount | 2022 State MN field goal.

Rosemount’s defense gave the ball right back to its offense, and the Irish moved right down the field and put the ball into the end zone on the first play of the second quarter. Irish quarterback Jordan Modrynski Jordan Modrynski QB Rosemount | 2021 State MN threw a pass to the front corner of the end zone, and wide receiver Sam Kuseske Sam Kuseske 6'4" | 190 lbs | WR Rosemount | 2022 State MN came back to the ball and made a diving catch just inside the pylon for a 10-0 lead.

Rosemount defensive tackle Cameron Rother Cameron Rother DL Rosemount | 2021 State MN stuffed a second-down run on East Ridge’s next possession, and then defensive back Sean Appold Sean Appold 5'11" | DB Rosemount | 2021 State MN deflected a third-down pass at the sticks to force the Raptors’ third straight punt.

It wasn’t obvious right away, but the Irish were going to empty the playbook—the first deep dive into the Irish bag of tricks set up their second touchdown. Cedric Wall caught a backward pass and threw deep to wide receiver Sean Sullivan for 30 yards on a designed double pass. Modrynski followed that up with a nicely thrown fade route to Wall. Wall was tackled inside the five, and Terence Campbell capped off the drive with a short touchdown run.

Already up 17-0, the Irish defense actually gave up a first down, but then Rosemount defensive back Kailer Wenzel picked off a badly overthrown ball setting the Irish up in Raptors’ territory. Although East Ridge held the visiting Irish to a Simmering 32-yard field goal to make the score 20-0, the Irish offensive line was imposing its will on the Raptors’ front seven. Koye Leenderts, Grant Peroutka, Cameron Rother Cameron Rother DL Rosemount | 2021 State MN , Sam Reiland, and TJ Edminson TJ Edminson 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Rosemount | 2022 State MN were moving the line of scrimmage and were keeping Modrynski in a clean pocket.

The next big play by the Irish defense came from Wall, who would sack the quarterback and force another punt. Wall would continue to come up with big plays – this time on offense. Of play-action, Modrynski found Wall on a post pattern. With time running out in the first half, running back Jayden Washington got the corner for 20 yards – setting up Modrynski and Kuseske to hook up on their second touchdown of the game. The 15-yard touchdown – and the ensuing empty the playbook Philly Special style two-point conversion – gave the Irish 25 points in the second quarter and a 28-0 halftime lead.

After receiving the second-half kickoff, the Irish didn’t ease off the gas. Washington kept the drive alive by picking up 20 yards on a third and 5. Modrynski found Wall on another post pattern to set up Modrynski’s third touchdown pass – this time to tight end Noah Loehr.

Before the Irish subbed down in the fourth quarter, East Ridge’s best drive came midway through the third quarter. They crossed mid-field for the first time, but a sack by Zaid Dameh on fourth down gave the ball back to Rosemount.

The final touchdown of the game came on Modrynski’s final touchdown pass. He would get the fourth different Irish player into the end zone – defensive standout Jake Ratzlaff Jake Ratzlaff 6'2" | LB Rosemount | 2021 State MN .

The Irish would empty their bench shortly after the Ratzlaff touchdown made the score 42-0. The shut out would give the Irish – who at one point this season won three games in eight days – their third straight shutout (and fourth in six games) a section title and an undefeated 6-0 season.