#3 Rock Port comes up with big 4th Quarter stop to defeat #2 Worth County 34-26

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by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com

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With under three minutes left in the game and down 8 points, #2 Worth County Tigers had a 4th down at the #3 Rock Port Blue Jays' 1-yard line. Worth County Freshman Brock Healy called his own number, but was stopped short. Worth County never got the ball back.  

Healy took over for the Tigers in the 3rd quarter when quarterback Hayden Sanders left the game with an injury. He was able to lead Worth County down the field, where Cole Ruby eventually scored with 1:16 left in the 3rd quarter to cut the Rock Port lead to 34-26. The Tigers would get to the Rock Port 10-yard line on their next possession; however, a fumble ended the drive. This was the story of the game for Worth County.

On the opening possession of the game, the Tigers stalled at the Rock Port 24-yard line. Rock Port took advantage with a 12-yard Brock Holmes touchdown. Worth County would answer with Bo Collins on a 3-yard run to the right side. The score was tied at 6 with 5:05 left in the first quarter. Both teams continued the scoring on their next possession. Holmes scored his 2nd touchdown from 33 yards, and then Sanders broke loose on a 45-yard quarterback keeper. Rock Port led 14-12 at the end of the first quarter.

The two teams stalled in the 2nd quarter, exchanging punts. After a 2nd Rock Port punt, Sanders threw an interception to Rock Port's Jack Meyerkorth.  Rock Port capitalized on that drive when quarterback Westyn Amthor found Camden McEnaney from 18 yards to put the Blue Jays up 22-12. Worth County immediately answered with a Sanders to Collins 62-yard touchdown pass. Collins did most of the work by breaking tackles and rumbling down the field for the score. After a Rock Port punt, the Tigers were driving again. However, a fumble at the Blue Jays' 10-yard line ended another Tiger drive. Rock Port closed out the scoring in the half when Holmes scored his 3rd touchdown from 5 yards out.

After a 2nd Meyerkorth interception in the 3rd quarter, Rock Port took advantage. After a great catch by Meyerkorth, Amthor ran it in from 1 yard to give the Blue Jays their first two-score lead of 34-20. Ruby's touchdown in the 3rd was the last time either team saw the end zone.

Worth County lost two fumbles, threw two interceptions, and turned it over on downs twice in Rock Port territory. Even with those offensive mistakes, they still had a chance late in the game. They will work to improve on those mistakes against South Holt next week before they start conference play against Princeton.

The loss for the Tigers is their third straight opening game loss. In each of the last two seasons, Worth County lost to Platte Valley but defeated them in the postseason. If Worth County and Rock Port meet in the postseason, it would be the state championship game. Tiger fans are hoping history repeats itself.

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