Rockets excel in all phases in Wednesday night rout

Brian Jerzak October 16, 2024 @ 11:29 PM

One of my goals each season when covering high school football for Prepredzone is to cover as many teams as possible. I make a point of not seeing the same team twice. Once the playoffs start, that rule has to go out the window, as the number of games obviously shrinks each week. It is not very often that I see teams from very far outside of the metro area. When a program having a good season comes within a half-hour drive – I try to get there. That led me to Bloomington to watch Jefferson take on Rochester John Marshall. The Rockets went into the game with five wins under their belt. With touchdown drives on their first four possessions and a defense that gave up just three points in the first half – that sixth win was all but assured by halftime.   Jefferson's defense started strong, forcing a three-and-out, but the Jaguars muffed the Rockets' punt. One play later, Rockets running back Tyshawn Beane was in the end zone with a 7-0 lead.   Beane made a big play on defense to stop the Jaguars' next drive. He read a throw into the flat and made an immediate tackle.   The Rockets took to the air after the punt. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1120576' first='Savy' last='Vath'] completed a couple of passes early in the drive – the second a twenty-five-yard strike to Chris Garcia-Lara. Vath used his legs to cap off the drive. He kept the ball on a read option look and sprinted twenty-five yards into the end zone.   Up 14-0 early in the first quarter, the defense continued to suffocate Jefferson's offense. Beane made a tackle for a loss. Then, defensive end Spencer Watkins sacked the quarterback when the Rockets' secondary covered everyone for what was basically a coverage sack.   Special teams set up the next touchdown. [player_tooltip player_id='236010' first='Eli' last='Ladu'] scooped up a punt off the bounce and made a series of cuts for a forty-yard punt return. After Vath completed some throws underneath, the offensive line made its most impressive play. They were much too athletic and physical for the Jaguars' front seven. It was never more evident than when Beane took his next handoff. He ran through a huge hole opened by offensive linemen Jack Limuti and Jeremiah Molina. Beane didn't have to make a cut until he was ten yards down the field. He used his speed from there to get into the end zone.   John Marshall's Richard Bondoc made two solid plays to force another Jefferson punt. First, he held the edge on a sweep and made a tackle in the backfield. Then, he undercut an out pattern and knocked the pass away.   Vath continued picking apart the Jaguars' defense behind an offensive line that let him stand in the pocket – it seemed as long as he wanted. He showed good touch on a ball; he had to loop in between two defenders to Markes Simpson. Simpson made a great catch – tipping the ball to himself and avoiding a tackler for another Rockets touchdown.   Jefferson put together a solid drive that would result in a field goal. However, any positive feelings they might have had were erased about ten seconds of game time later. Simpson started on the left side of the field, ran all the way to the far sidelines where his blockers were set up, and sprinted down the sidelines for another touchdown.   Up 33-3, the Rockets' defense made a stop. With the ball back and facing fourth and long, Vath threw another nearly perfect ball down the middle of the field to Simpson. The touchdown made the score 40-3 at the half. The second half was a mess of penalties and sloppy play on both sides. Some of this was because John Marshall started subbing down, but much of it was because of some after-the-whistle nonsense from both sides. Beane would get into the end zone one more time to make the score 47-9 after three quarters. Jefferson would punch in a couple of touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The Rockets would add one more as well to make the final score 53-21.

One of my goals each season when covering high school football for Prepredzone is to cover as many teams as possible. I make a point of not seeing the same team twice. Once the playoffs start, that rule has to go out the window, as the number of games obviously shrinks each week. It is not very often that I see teams from very far outside of the metro area. When a program having a good season comes within a half-hour drive – I try to get there. That led me to Bloomington to watch Jefferson take on Rochester John Marshall. The Rockets went into the game with five wins under their belt. With touchdown drives on their first four possessions and a defense that gave up just three points in the first half – that sixth win was all but assured by halftime.