ND 11-Man Football Rugby at Thompson

Recap

Rugby @ Thompson – (YourLiveEvent.com)

Jake Starcevic passed for two touchdowns and ran for the go-ahead score with 8:59 to play to give Thompson a 28-26 victory over Rugby Friday night on Homecoming night in Thompson.  The Tommies, tied for fifth in the North Dakota 11B football rankings, improve to 5-0 with the victory.

The Tommies opened the scoring with 4:45 to go in the first quarter as Starcevic and Reece Berberich connected on a 16 yard scoring pass.  The score was 6-0 as the try for a two point conversion failed.

Rugby responded with a four play, 73 yard drive that ended with John Jundt scoring on a four yard run. Austin Schneibel ran for the two point conversion to put the Panthers ahead 8-6 after the first quarter.

On the first play of the second quarter, Thompson regained the lead as Starcevic threw nine yards to Karter Peterson for a touchdown.  The conversion failed; Thompson led 12-8.

The Tommies built on that lead later in the quarter as Josh Juve scored on a three yar, d run.  Brody Gibson caught a pass for the two point conversion and Thompson led 20-8 with 7:21 to go in the half.

Rugby’s defense got a score when Bryceton Deplazes intercepted a Starcevic pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown.  Thompson led at the half 20-14.

The Panthers tied the game in the third quarter as Brody Schneibel threw a 15 yard touchdown pass to Erik Foster on fourth down to tie the game at 20, after the two point conversion failed.

Early in the fourth quarter, Starcevic scored on a seven yard run to put Thompson ahead 28-20.  The sophomore quarterback also ran for the two point conversion.

Rugby rallied with Brody Schneibel throwing 28 yards to Jacob Ripplinger for a touchdown with 4:49 to play.  Schneibel’s pass for the two point conversion was broken up by the Tommies’ Max Roller, keeping Thompson ahead 28-26…and that’s how it ended.

Unofficially, Starcevic ran 23 times for 179 yards and completed 8 of 17 passes for 131 yards and two scores.  After the game, Thompson Coach Alex Starcevic (Jake’s Dad) talked about the win.

Thompson improves to 5-0; they travel to Langdon next Friday.

Rugby is now 2-3 on the season; the Panthers host Bottineau next week.