Warriors Keep Playoff Hopes Alive With Win Over Aberdeen

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Senior tailback Talon Betts ran for three touchdowns and Rochester held off Aberdeen for a crucial 21-8 victory over Aberdeen on the road in 2A Evergreen Conference action Friday.

It was a must-win matchup for the Warriors, who are still fighting for a playoff spot. Aberdeen and Shelton face off next week to decide seeding. A Shelton win would give the Highclimbers the No. 3 seed, and Rochester the fourth and final spot. An Aberdeen win would create a three-way tie and force a Kansas City tiebreaker.

“It was a big one,” Rochester coach A.J. Easley said of the win. “Our kids decided they needed to play physical and they played physical.”

Betts finished with 21 carries for 120 yards and three scores, while fullback Palmer Watt churned out tough yardage with nine carries for 27 yards. Quarterback Landon Hawes was 5 for 7 passing for 83 yards, and Max Mboob was his leading pass catcher with two catches for 48 yards.

“Talon ran the ball really well, Landon was really good passing and Palmer Watt at middle linebacker and fullback,” Easley said. “Our offensive and defensive lines were massive. They were fantastic.”

Rochester 5-3, 3-2 league) has a bye next week and will await the outcome of the Shelton-Aberdeen game that will decide the playoffs.

“We’re Highclimber fans next week,” Easley said.