Rocori football defeats Byron in Class 4A state tournament semifinal

The Spartans touchdown in the fourth quarter was all it took for the win

MINNEAPOLIS — The Rocori Spartans (10-2) defeated the Byron Bears (10-2) 7-0 in the Minnesota state high school football Class 4A semifinals on Thursday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Rocori broke through in the fourth quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run from quarterback Will Stiel.

The Spartans' drive started on their 40-yard line with 32 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Despite a scoreless game, the Byron offense was able to drive and soak up time of possession throughout, so Rocori knew another scoreless drive could give Byron the ball with an opportunity to chew clock and score. 

"We told our guys that this could be our last chance to win this game," Stiel said. "We only get so many opportunities. … I thought our offensive line pulled through really well to create that hole for me to get through."

Six minutes and sixty yards later, the Spartans executed and went up 7-0. 

"A credit to our kids," Rocori coach James Herberg said. "They just keep battling and they know how to throw punches. If things don’t go their way they just keep fighting."

Byron received the kickoff on its own 18 and drove to the Rocori 33 yard-line, but a false penalty stalled a drive, and the Bears were forced to convert a long fourth down. 

Quarterback Kale Robinson had an open receiver streaking toward the end zone on fourth and long, but he overthrew the pass, and Rocori converted one first down to kneel the game out. 

"When you play teams like [Rocori], you have to sustain drives, and then when you sustain drives you have to score," Byron coach Ben Halder said. "We sustained a couple nice drives tonight, and we just couldn’t punch it into the end zone."

The Bears defense was stout all night. The Spartans are a potent offense, and Byron had them flummoxed for much of the night. 

"It was just something we hadn’t seen before," Stiel said. "So many defensive lineman staying up and moving around and stunting all the time. We’re a zone blocking team so it’s hard for the line to get to the guys when they’re stunting all the time."

Rocori will play the winner of Hutchinson vs. North Branch Area on November 24 at 4 p.m.

Byron ends their season on a trip to the state tournament for the first time since 2003.

"Our kids gave great effort tonight," Halder said. "I don’t think there was one ounce of effort left out there."

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