Rockets soar to season-highs, handing Tigers a loss in season-finale

From the first play of the game, Randolph was clear for takeoff.

The Rockets (2-6) reached deep into the playbook to try some things offensively and have a little fun while doing it. Riding the good vibes from the early touchdowns, the Rockets flew up and down the field in the first half.

A blistering start to the game put Lake City (1-7) in an early deficit, one they didn't recover from. The Tigers closed out the regular season with a 48-0 loss in Randolph Tuesday.

It was the kind of start for the Rockets that set the tone for the remainder of the contest. The first offensive play of the game was a screen pass to a wide receiver split out wide behind four players. Parker Banks took that screen up the field for a 70-yard touchdown.

After a Lake City punt on their first possession, Randolph needed one play to score on a pass to Jaden Smith. The play was a pitch to the player in motion, Maxx Staub, who then heaved a ball down field to Smith for the 45-yard score.

The Rockets picked off a bobbled catch attempt over the middle of the field. Judd Wersel had it land in his arms, then taking it back 55 yards for the touchdown.

Barely halfway through the first quarter, Randolph led 22-0. The Tigers had their third possession end in an interception. The Rockets needed only a handful of plays to get into the end zone.

Finally out of a nightmarish first quarter for the Tigers, the Rockets were in complete control of both sides of the ball.

The Tigers ran into a bit of fortune in the early minutes of the second quarter. A punt was fumbled by the Rockets and recovered by the Tigers past midfield. They kept the ball moving to the Rocket 26-yard line before an unsuccessful fourth-down attempt.

The Rockets had three first-half possessions end with a score on one play. They scored more points in the game than they had in their seven previous games combined and had a season-high in yards of offense by halftime. Meanwhile, Lake City had three interceptions, a fumble lost, one punt and one turnover on downs.

Notes

The win assures Randolph they won't finish as the seventh seed in Section 4AA. The Rockets ended with the same record as Central but lost in the head-to-head matchup. It seems likely the Rockets will receive the No. 6 seed and face the No. 3 seed in the first round, which would be either Rush City or Maple Lake.

Lake City ended the regular season with a tightly contested win over Red Wing. The Tigers have the head-to-head advantage over the Wingers, both ending the season with the same record. If the Tigers are the sixth seed, they would likely travel to face Cotter. If they are the seventh seed, then it could be a matchup with Zumbrota-Mazeppa.