Simley Edges ROCORI Football 17-16 in Semifinals

(KNSI) – ROCORI High School fell 17-16 to Simley in a Class AAAA football semifinal Thursday evening.

A 33-yard field goal with under five minutes to go was the difference. The kick from Reid Remackel just snuck into the lower right corner between the uprights. He was also successful on two extra-point attempts.

The score was the only one after the break. ROCORI was ahead 16-14 at halftime thanks to a big second quarter. After two three-and-out possessions to begin the game, ROCORI was finally able to move the ball.

The five-play, 44-yard drive was capped off with a 22-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jack Spanier to Gabe Johnson. The throw was initially intended for receiver Adam Langer but the ball careened off the helmet of a Simley defender and into the hands of Johnson.

ROCORI also punched it in on the ground, a four-yard draw from Spanier. He waltzed into the endzone untouched. ROCORI converted on both two-point conversions.

Simley also scored twice in the quarter. A four-yard carry from La’tayvion McCoy-Nunn wrapped up a tidy 10-play, 91-yard scoring march on the first play of quarter two. McCoy also had a 41-yard run during the drive.

Facing third and long, Simley quarterback Caden Renslow appeared to be favoring his side. He was able to scramble to his left to avoid pressure and allow McCoy to drift behind the ROCORI secondary. Renslow unleashed a perfect throw downfield and McCoy cruised the rest of the way to paydirt, a 69-yard connection. The longest play from scrimmage for either team came with 4:03 left in the second.

Simley dramatically outgained ROCORI and outpossessed them as well. They were hampered by three turnovers on down, though. Assisting McCoy on the day was a workhorse running back Gavin Nelson. He rumbled 32 times for 167 yards, most of that in the second half.

Simley outgained ROCORI 372 yards to 123. They racked up 32:22 of possession time to ROCORI’s 15:38.

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