Last Friday, #6-ranked Becker traveled to Rocori High School in Cold Spring to take on the #5-ranked Spartans in a battle of two undefeated teams. Rocori, the Class 4A state champions of last year, was coming off a close, two-point win over Willmar the week before.

This time, they prevailed by one.

The Bulldogs appeared to have the game in hand in the fourth quarter, leading 13-6 as the clock was winding down. However, a blocked punt and a long return for a TD and a successful two-point conversion toppled the road warriors and sent them to a 2-1 season record.

The only scoring in the first quarter came on a five-yard run by Brady Linn, but their attempt at a two-point conversion failed and they led by 6-0.

Neither team tallied any points in the second quarter of this defensive-minded game as the two evenly-matched teams battled for supremecy.

Becker surged ahead in the third quarter when Carter Callahan rambled 60 yards for a score and Zach Bengtson converted the kick to put the visitors up by one.

Callahan reached the end zone again later in the quarter from five yards out and Becker went for two to try and go up by eight. The conversion failed and the Bulldogs were left with a 13-6 lead heading into the fourth.

Then came the blocked punt.

Linn blocked a Becker punt from around midfield and returned it for a touchdown. Camdyn Bauer found Luke Humbert in the end zone for the successful two-point conversion that gave Rocori the 14-13 lead and eventually the win.

Bauer went 10-for-17 with 154 passing yards, while adding 25 rushing yards. Carter Thelen led the Spartans in rushing with four carries for 31 yards. Linn added 15 rushing yards on 11 carries and had the touchdown.

Humbert led Rocori in receiving with six catches for 76 yards, while Tucker Haakonson had two receptions for 44 yards.

For Becker, Ryan Bengtson was nine-of-16 for 50 yards and one interception. Callahan finished with 141 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Hunter Klatt had three receptions for 24 yards and Caden DeWall had four catches for 20 yeards.

DeWall led the defense with six tackles, one assist and one tackle for a loss. He also had one interception and one fumble recovery.

Becker finished with 252 total yards compared to Rocori’s 225. Becker had 10 first downs to the Spartan’s nine.

Up Next

The Bulldogs played Hutchinosn on the road Friday night (a full report on the game will appear in next week’s Patriot).