The Rochester High School football team quickly rallied back from an early first-quarter deficit against King’s in Shoreline and held on in the second half to win 34-24 Friday night.
King’s led 12-0 after the first quarter, but Rochester’s offense came alive in the second to take a 22-18 halftime lead, and the defense limited the Knights to 12 points in the final 36 minutes.
Running back duo Ethan Rodriguez (25 carries, 261 yards, five touchdowns) and Maddox Rodgers (17 carries, 89 yards, two touchdowns) lifted the Warriors on their backs, combining for 350 rushing yards and seven scores. Rodgers and Marshall Turnquist also picked off passes on defense.
“Shot ourselves in the foot a little,” Rochester head coach AJ Easley said of the first quarter. “We came right back; Maddox made a one-handed interception in the end zone, and we went into half with the lead. The boys played as a team. They played unselfish. They played for each other. It was really good to see. I’m extremely proud of them all and the coaches. Great team win.”
Rochester (5-1, 1-0 Evergreen) faces a gauntlet in the next two weeks as it heads to Montesano next Friday in a battle of league undefeated teams, and then the Warriors will host Tenino in the Scatter Creek Showdown the following week.
