Two dominant backs in Kaiden Stout and Derez Sayles are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Rochester Rockets will head out on the road to square off against the Waterloo Bulldogs at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. One thing working in Rochester's favor is that they have posted at least 31 points in their last eight games.
Rochester is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat Taylorville 56-7. Considering the Rockets have won seven contests by more than 20 points this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Rochester to victory, but perhaps none more so than Tanner Beal, who threw for 65 yards and two TDs, and also punched in one score on the ground. Another receiver making a difference was Nate Swaney, who picked up 75 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Special teams also played a big role in the game for Rochester, adding 20 points to the final score. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Khorbin Gregory, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown. Another bright spot was a punt return touchdown from him.
Meanwhile, Waterloo was not the first on the board on Friday, but they got there more often. They pulled ahead with a 14-13 photo finish over Mt. Zion. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Bulldogs have posted since September 13, 2024.
Waterloo didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Kaleb Osterhage and Cannon Richard.
Waterloo has been performing well recently as they've won five of their last six matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 7-3 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 30.2 points over those games. As for Rochester, their record is now 9-1.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Rochester has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 234.6 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Waterloo struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 298.8 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.
