Rocori Slides by Becker in a Nail-Biter Last Friday Night

MONTICELLO-- Back to back weeks at Monticello Stadium you say? When you get section games decided by a total of 10 points in two straight games, you better believe Prep Redzone Minnesota will be there every single time, especially with last Friday night's barn-burner between the Rocori Spartans and the Becker Bulldogs.

I said it on Friday night before I got out to Monticello, both of these rosters have a boatload of talent, and the number of players I have personally scouted live from both storied football programs just added more fuel to wanting to scout this game live and in-person. In my five seasons of providing high school football coverage for Prep Redzone Minnesota, I have never ever gotten a FULL blown adrenaline rush from a playoff game like I did last Friday night between the Rocori Spartans and the Becker Bulldogs and I mean that to the core. One team out of this one had to lose, and with the love & respect I have for the players and coaches from both football programs, that was surprisingly hard for me to fathom. If that doesn't give you any indication of what a heckuva battle between the Spartans and Bulldogs I am about to share with you from Friday night, then I don't know what will. Let's get to it!

FIRST QUARTER

Becker 2023 QB Ryan Bengtson Ryan Bengtson 5'9" | 160 lbs | QB Becker | 2023 State MN capped off an 83-drive to start the game for the Bulldogs with a 2-yard run to finish it off. The rushing attack of Logan Eisele Logan Eisele 6'0" | 195 lbs | ATH Becker | 2023 MN , Harrison Kent Harrison Kent 6'2" | 205 lbs | LB Becker | 2023 MN , and Bengtson was key to starting up the Bulldogs with a 7-0 lead with just over 6 minutes left in the first quarter. Becker 7, Rocori 0.

Rocori got their pedal down offensively thru the air, when Spartans 2023 QB Jack Spanier Jack Spanier 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB Rocori | 2023 State MN found CMFA camp standout 2023 WR Hunter Nistler for a Rocori Spartans touchdown. Rocori went for the two-point conversion and got it to get their first lead of the game. Rocori 8, Becker 7

Prep Redzone Minnesota subscribers should know by now how much I love a player's selling ability in an RPO offense and yet again, it was Rocori 2023 Hunter Nistler who got his second touchdown of the quarter on an 18-yard sprint to the outside right edge of the field to get the Spartans a two-score game (conversion was good again). Rocori 16, Becker 7. End of the 1st quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

The biggest struggle for the Bulldogs in the first half was their inability to cash in on Rocori's turnovers, as the Bulldogs had several chances to make this game even closer to what it turned out to be in the end.

On the Spartan's defensive side of the ball, Rocori 2024 DB Will Steil Will Steil 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB Rocori | 2024 State MN was the first-half standout in my eyes, as he logged a key interception and was excellent in his ball-tracing abilities with the duration he could stick on almost any route the Bulldogs tried to run his way. This was very much a defensive quarter for both squads. Rocori 16, Becker 7. Halftime

THIRD QUARTER

Same story as the second quarter, with no scoring and plenty of defense on both sides of the ball. But you better wait until this fourth quarter hits, Prep Redzone Minnesota subscribers. Rocori 16, Becker 7. End of the 3rd quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

The fourth quarter was MUST WATCH/READ for any Minnesota high school football fan out there. After sparks flew in the passing game with the connection between Rocori 2023 uncommitted QB Jack Spanier Jack Spanier 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB Rocori | 2023 State MN and 2023 wide receivers Gabe Johnson Gabe Johnson 165 lbs | WR Rocori | 2023 MN and Hunter Nistler (also uncommitted might I add), it was running back Mason Dahl that finished off the drive with a 3-yard run for the Spartans to make it a three-score game early in the 4th quarter. The Bulldogs were able to get their first and only stop on the two-point conversion of the night on this try. Rocori 22, Becker 7.

The Bulldogs were finally able to get a crack inside the Spartan's stout defense in their passing game, as 2023 QB Ryan Bengtson Ryan Bengtson 5'9" | 160 lbs | QB Becker | 2023 State MN found 2024 TE Kyan Blomquist Kyan Blomquist 6'2" | 200 lbs | WR Becker | 2024 State MN right in front of my eyes on the sidelines for a 22-yard receiving touchdown with just over seven minutes left in the 4th quarter. Rocori 22, Becker 14.

With 3:46 left in the game, it was the big man, 6'4 2023 DB Julias Hendricks of the Becker Bulldogs that got a massive interception to turn the tables of momentum to finally trend in the Bulldog's direction as they had one last chance to spark a Becker comeback at Monticello.

The well-disciplined defense of the Spartans got a massive sack from another favorite of mine from the CMFA defensive camp over the summer in 2023 linebacker Blake Tylutki Blake Tylutki 5'11" | 220 lbs | LB Rocori | 2023 MN , who is another prospect I would love to see play college football on Saturdays next year. With under three minutes left, the momentum shifted back to the Spartan's defense in my eyes.

After taking the sack from Tylutki, Becker 2023 QB Ryan Bengtson Ryan Bengtson 5'9" | 160 lbs | QB Becker | 2023 State MN showed out the grittiness to his future football arsenal, rushing for a hard-earned first down just over the markers to light yet again another spark for the Bulldog's chances.

Could the momentum continue for Becker? The pass interference call on the Spartans certainly helped them out getting down to the Rocori 17-yard line with 25 seconds left in the game. After that, we saw a 2023 stockriser come out in Becker 2023 WR Alex Weiss Alex Weiss 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR Becker | 2023 MN , who made two of the most clutch fourth-quarter catches I have seen since I started with Prep Redzone Minnesota five seasons ago- as he made a heck of a re-adjustment with his body to catch the first one and the second one? He got the Becker Bulldogs a short touchdown reception, putting them just one 2-point conversion away from tying this one up and sending it to overtime. Just wait for how this one finishes.

Who made the game-winning play for the Spartans? College coaches, I want you to meet Rocori 2024 defensive back, Andy Pedroza. Andy had an interception earlier in the game and recorded one of the most impactful pass-break-ups I have ever seen in scouting a playoff game. His instincts showed off and paid off massive dividends for the Rocori Spartans to win this game. Final: Rocori 22, Becker 20. The Rocori Spartans are headed back to state!