ROCORI Football Will Play For Class AAAA State Title

(KNSI) – ROCORI defensive end Dwight Kiffmeyer took over the Class AAAA state football semifinal Thursday against Byron, contributing to the team’s fifth shutout of the season and a 7-0 victory.

Kiffmeyer was third in the team in tackles with eight, but he was involved with almost all of his squad’s takedowns behind the line of scrimmage. Number 81 registered 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He was a one-man drive killer against the Bears.

The contest was scoreless through three quarters, with both sides squandering trips to the other team’s red zone. ROCORI quarterback Will Steil had to sit out two plays on a pivotal fourth quarter drive as he dealt with back soreness but returned to call his own number from the Byron two-yard line. He gritted his way into the end zone on the ground with 6:27 remaining.

Andy Pedroza’s extra point was the finishing touch on the game’s only score. Byron took over on its own 18 and drove to the ROCORI 33, but the Bears couldn’t break the stout Spartan D.

They turned it over on downs for the third time in the contest with only 1:41 remaining. The Bears were forced into 2nd-and-24 on the possession thanks to a Kiffmeyer and Grady Minnerath sack.

ROCORI will play the winner of Hutchinson and North Branch on Friday, November 24th. Kickoff of the Prep Bowl game is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

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