Rocket football team overwhelmed by St. Croix Falls in season opener

The Spencer-Columbus football season got off on the wrong foot on Aug. 19 as the Rockets fell 53-21 on the road at St. Croix Falls. The Rocket defense allowed almost 500 yards of total offense on the night as Spencer-Columbus fell behind 21-0 after one quarter and 33-7 by halftime.

Things don’t get any easier for a team that faces defending state champion Colby at home on Aug. 26.

At St. Croix Falls, the Rocket offense produced 227 yards. Spencer-Columbus rushed for 156 yards on 30 carries, with Sullivan Melander leading the effort with 80 yards on 14 attempts. Carter Luepke added 74 yards on six rushes.

Melander scored the Rockets’ first touchdown on a 5-yard run in the second quarter that cut the Saints’ lead to 21-7. Isaac Mauritz added a 1-yard run for Spencer-Columbus early in the second half, and he then connected with Landon Behselich for a 65-yard scoring pass with 2:50 left in the third period. That made it a 40-21 game at the time.

Mauritz passed 11 times in the game with two completions for 71 yards.

St. Croix Falls rushed 53 times for 435 yards. The Saints threw five times with two catches for 41 yards.

Peyton Brookhart led Spencer-Columbus with 5.5 tackles and Nathan Rucker and Melander had five each.

Rocket coach Jason Gorst said his team lost to a quality opponent.

“Hats off to St. Croix Central,” he said. “ They are a very good team that plays with class and dignity. I am proud of our players for their effort. We need to keep working to improve. “