By Michael Rupp
MMCRU played their last regular season home game last Friday against the Gehlen Catholic Jays. The Royals celebrated the cross country, cheer, band, and football participants from the class of 2022 prior to kickoff. The Royals will graduate 9 seniors this year (Eban Hicks, Keegan Stevens, Brenin Stodden, Ryan Olson, Michael Rupp, Matthew Kollbaum, Preston Astidias, and Brett Staab.)
The Royals came into the game fresh off back to back shutouts at South O’Brien and Alta-Aurelia. Junior Quarterback KC Nicks sat out Friday after a shoulder injury late in the 4th quarter sidelined the 3rd year starter. Sophomore Jonah Petersen got his second start of the season at the quarterback position. Peterson’s first start came week three at Akron-Westfield, where the Royals lost 33-14. Petersen played a good game, completing 12 of his 30 passing attempts for 125 yards and a touchdown. Senior Preston Astidias had 6 receptions for 64 yards. Astidias also had 2 interceptions for the Royals defensively. The Royals were led in rushing by Senior Eban Hicks, who carried the ball 19 times for 47 yards.
It was a defensive battle early in the game. The Jays marched down the field on their first drive, but were stopped on fourth down by the Royals defense. The Royals went three-and-out on their first drive and gave Gehlen back the ball.
The Jays would march 71 yards down the field, and handed off to Junior Aiden Spangler for a 3 yard touchdown run. The Royals blocked the extra point and the score was 6-0.
The Royals got things going in the 2nd quarter. Down 14-0 Preston Astidias picked off Junior Quarterback Conner Kraft, and the Royals took over at the Jays 24 yard line. Petersen found Senior Brenin Stodden on 4th down for a 15 yard touchdown completion. Stodden, also the placekicker for the Royals, nailed the extra point and the score was 14-7 Jays.
Down 20-7 with less than 3 minutes on the clock, the Royals drove 64 yards down the field. On 3rd and goal Stodden took the handoff and got behind the blockers Cody Evans, Owen Schorder, and Michael Rupp, who led the push into the endzone for Stoddens 2nd touchdown. Stodden made the extra point and the Royals cut the lead to 6 right before the half.
The Gehlan offence responded well in the second half. Spangler found the endzone for the 3rd time on the Jays opening drive of the half, and soon after Bonderson also scored, making the Jays lead 34-14.
The Royals would score again though. After Stodden returned a kick all the way to the Jays 40 yard line, the Royals marched to the red zone. Senior Keegan Stevens took the Jet Sweep handoff and won the foot race to the goal line from 7 yards out. Stodden made his 3rd extra point try and the score was 34-21 Jays.
The Jays scored three more times after continuing to throw the ball while up by 13. The final score was 57-21 Jays.
The Royals are officially illuminated from the playoffs, however they did schedule a week nine game against the Eagles of Lawton-Bronson on October 22.