Any time you set a goal and you work together to reach that goal and you achieve it, well that’s the ultimate,” said Rossville Head Coach Derick Hammes.
Many considered last week’s victory over Silver Lake to be the biggest win in program history, as Silver Lake had eliminated Rossville eight times in the previous twelve postseasons.
That opinion would be short lived.
“I am so happy for our seniors and proud of them, but I’m really happy for our community,” said Hammes. “They love the Bulldogs and it feels great to bring a championship home to them.”
The game started out being a defensive battle, which was surprising considering both teams had been averaging more than 45 points per game coming into the contest.
Rossville had an opportunity to get on the board first during their first drive of the game as wide receiver Chris Roduner had broken free and was streaking down the field, but the pass from quarterback Tucker Horak was just a yard out of the reach of a diving Roduner.
Both teams would punt twice before any real offensive momentum started. Even when the Scott City offense began to creep closer to the first score of the game midway through the second quarter, the Beavers would lose a fumble while inside the Rossville 20 yard line.
Taking advantage of the turnover, Rossville would then take advantage of another Scott City mistake. The Beavers would jump offside on a fourth down and three, giving the Bulldogs a first down. Tucker Horak would then finish the 14 play, 82 yard drive by punching through the line and diving in head first from three yards out to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead heading into halftime.
The Bulldogs would receive the kickoff to open the second half, and Horak sparked things with a 28 yard run on their first play. With momentum seemingly all on Rossville’s side, the Bulldogs failed to gain another first down on the drive, forcing them to punt to a previously quiet Scott City offense.
With their backs against the wall, Scott City quarterback Trey O’Neil led the Beavers offense 84 yards to their first touchdown of the day, a 30 yard pass to Chantz Yager, to tie the game 7-7.
Looking to respond, Rossville would travel 54 yards before a Horak fumble inside the 20 yard line gave the ball back to Scott City.
Scott City, searching for their third state title in three seasons, knew this was their chance.
Beaver’s Head Coach Glenn O’Neil braved the odds, going for it on 4th and 1 on the Scott City 38 yard line and converting, keeping the drive alive.
As the Scott City offense marched down the field, the crowd grew louder and louder, nearly exploding when O’Neil connected with Sloan Baker for a 34 yard touchdown pass to put the Beavers up 14-7.
Trailing for the first time in the game with less than nine minutes to go, the Bulldogs looked to their leader and workhorse in Horak to even the game up.
On a third down and two, Horak connected with Roduner on a screen pass that would travel 24 yards. After that, the Rossville offense became the Tucker Horak highlight show.
It seemed as if Horak was covered in grease, as in several instances Horak wiggled his way out of two, three, even four Scott City defenders to get the necessary extra yardage. Horak would fight his way to averag 8 yards per carry on the day.
On a 3rd and 5 on the Scott City 18 yard line, Horak lowered his head and plowed into the line. Swarmed by what seemed to be every Scott City lineman, many assumed the Bulldogs would be dealing with a fourth down situation. Suddenly, Horak could be seen spinning his way out of the would-be tacklers, sprinting down the sideline and diving for the pylon just after stepping out of bounds on the two yard line. Horak’s 16 yard run would set up teammate Nick Reesor for a two yard touchdown run to tie the game at 14-14.
“Our line opened up some big holes that drive and I knew we could break off a big play sooner or later,” Horak said.
Scott City quarterback Trey O’Neil, who also plays in the defensive secondary, would injure his throwing shoulder on that big run by Horak.
Although O’Neil would continue to play, it was apparent that his shoulder was in some real pain as he could be seen continually moving and shaking his right arm, trying to keep that shoulder loose.
Scott City would be forced to punt to Rossville with just over four minutes remaining in the game, which proved to be plenty of time for Horak to work his magic.
“Coach found a little hole in the defense and we knew if we could bounce it to the outside that we could take advantage of it,” Horak said.
That big play happened on the second play of the driver, as Horak would scamper 23 yards to put the Bulldogs on the Scott City side of the field.
After driving to the Scott City 13 yard line, the Bulldogs were faced with a fourth down decision. Thinking back to earlier in the game when Rossville drew Scott City offside for a fourth down conversion, Hammes figured he’d give it another chance and try to draw the Beavers offside once more. With one of the better kickers in the state in Paul Steinke, Hammes was confident that even if Scott City didn’t jump offside that Rossville could still take the lead.
“We were more than prepared to have Paul kick the game winning field goal,” Hammes said of his decision. “But we didn’t need to this time.”
Hammes call worked, as a hard count by Horak while putting a man in motion drew the Beavers offside, giving Rossvile a first and goal on the eight yard line.
Horak would capitalize from the Scott City mistake with a five yard touchdown run to put the Bulldogs up 21-14 with less than one minute remaining in the game.
After a touchback on the kickoff, Scott City would run a double reverse, wide receiver pass from Brett Meyer to Yager for 21 yards to start the drive. This may have been a gutsy decision from the Scott City coaching staff, trying to catch Rossville off guard, or this may have been an indication that O’Neil’s injury to his throwing shoulder was seriously starting to affect his arm strength.
After an O’Neil spike to stop the clock, Lake Schultz-Pruner would intercept an O’Neil pass across the middle of the field, sealing the Beavers fate as state runners up and clinching Rossville’s first state title in program history.
Both O’Neil and Horak transformed from quarterbacks into warriors throughout the game as both men took beating after beating, becoming battered and bruised, but both continued to get back to their feet.
After the final whistle, Horak could be seen falling to a knee in what could have been a mental, physical and emotional sigh of relief. It was all over. Rossville had won.
“Becoming state champions is something that has never happened at our school, and that was something that really drove us to work hard all year,” said Horak. “I feel like I need a really long nap now.”
A nap would be well warranted for Horak, as he would finish with 212 yards rushing on 27 carries. Horak contributed 267 of Rossville’s 342 total yards of offense.
The Rossville signal caller and youngest of three Horak’s on the team, will look to celebrate the school’s biggest win with the rest of the Rossville community.
After seeing rival Silver Lake, a mere ten minute drive away, win three state titles since 2006, it’s now Rossville who is the last team standing. It is Rossville hoisting the trophy above everyone else.
For the first time ever, it is the city of Rossville that is home to high school state champion
