ROCHESTER — The Rochester backfield, in layman’s terms, is stacked.
Junior Ethan Rodriguez is the reigning 1A Evergreen MVP, and Xander Peterman earned a first-team all-league spot behind him. Junior Maddox Rodgers earned a first-team spot on defense last season, but he didn’t see a ton of carries offensively.
Last week in Vancouver, Rodgers scored three times and eclipsed the 100-yard mark on the ground.
His encore on Friday night against Castle Rock was even more impressive.
“What Maddox has done in two weeks is unbelievable,” Rochester coach A.J. Easley said.
Rodgers tallied 250 yards and scored four times on just nine carries, leading the Warriors to a dominant 49-14 win over the Rockets.
“I just keep giving 100 percent every play,” Rodgers said. “That’s it. They really can’t stop us.”
His first touchdown run from 15 yards out capped a 10-play opening drive that lasted nearly five minutes, and his next from 26 yards out made it 14-0 late in the first.
After Peterman got on the board with a long touchdown run at the end of the first, Rodgers broke free on the next offensive snap for a 61-yard touchdown. His final touchdown of the night was a 73-yard sprint down the left sideline, one where he beat several defenders.
After each of his touchdowns, he went over to his offensive line to celebrate.
“Every touchdown, I’m thanking them,” Rodgers said. “Because of them, it’s possible.”
His already ridiculous stat line was almost even more extraordinary.
He had appeared to break free for another rushing touchdown before halftime, but he was taken down by his horse collar at the 10. And on the previous Castle Rock possession, Rodgers jumped a screen and was on his way to the end zone for a pick-six before a false start penalty was called and killed the play.
“They robbed me,” Rodgers joked with a smile. “But I still caught the ball, so I’m happy.”
Peterman finished the night with two touchdowns and 111 yards on the ground, and as a team, the Warriors finished right at 400 yards on 33 carries, a clip of 12.12 yards per carry.
“Teams are obviously gonna do everything they can possibly do to stop Ethan,” Easley said. “Tonight, Maddox Rodgers, Xander Peterman, all those guys stepped up. Not only do they feel confident that they’re going to be successful, they know what they’re doing … They hit it super fast because they never have to think about what they’re doing.”
Easley also made sure to give credit to each of his five starting offensive linemen: Tristan Johnson, Stanton Smith, Wyatt Dahl, Jackson Allman, and Tanner Eaton.
“They’re so good,” Easley said. “Those guys just move people. They’re awesome.”
Defensively, the Warriors (2-0) were just as efficient.
They held the Rockets scoreless and limited them to just 69 yards in the first half, and they also forced a turnover.
Joshua Long forced a fumble with a strip sack, and Marshall Turnquist recovered. Turnquist also blocked a punt, setting up Peterman’s first touchdown run.
“Guys were flying around,” Easley said. “They fly around, they’re not afraid of contact, and they just hit guys. It helps us a lot.”
Easley credited his defensive staff for how they’ve developed players on that side of the ball, saying to him, that’s the difference between building a program and building for one specific group of kids.
”When we build for a program, guys are able to just kind of step in and take off and do well,” Easley said. “These guys have all bought in, and they know exactly what they’re doing.”
Eventually, the Warriors will get their league tests against the likes of Montesano and Tenino. Repeating as league champions is in the back of their minds.
But for now, all of their attention will turn to Aberdeen, who will head to Rochester next Friday, Sept. 19.
“Expectations for this group are high,” Easley said. “We’ve tried to take that 1-0 mentality. You can’t worry about any of that until then.”
