By Jeremy Reinarts

Journal Sports Writer

SPRINGFIELD – Red Rock Central beat Springfield 20-6 in a Southwest District East Conference battle Friday night.

RRC received the opening kickoff, starting at its own 47. It then drove the ball to the end zone, on six plays finishing with a 7-yard run by Sam Hansen. The extra point failed.

On the following drive, Springfield had to punt from their own 48. The punt was fumbled by RRC’s Brady Rasmussen and recovered by Springfield, giving it great field position. RRC’s size came in factor as it pushed Springfield back to a fourth and 18. The drive stalled when Springfield turned the ball over on downs.

“In our system of offense, and with the team we have getting into the red zone and not scoring really hurts,” Springfield coach Paul Dunn said.

Springfield scored early in the second quarter when Kale Meendering came from the outside for a huge sack. Meendering recovered the fumble on the play at RRC’s 11.

“[Meendering] is very good at that, he does it legal by coming in low and has a knack for cutting that edge,” Dunn said.

Ben Runck took a sweep off the left side for the touchdown, ending the scoring for the half.

The Falcons recovered a fumble from a sack in the end zone after Runck misplayed the kickoff to open the second half.

Springfield, behind 20-6, was given one more break when a defensive linemen for RRC tipped a screen pass into the hands of Springfield’s Aaron Salonek, putting the ball on the Falcons’ 45.

“It was one of those, some times you have to be lucky plays, [Salonek] was very alert to get the ball and get the first down,” Dunn said.

For the Tigers, Salonek had six carries for 62 yards and Meendering tallied four catches and 52 yards.

Defensively for Springfield, Meendering had 13 tackles and Salonek with 12 to end the night.

Springfield will travel to Sleepy Eye at 7 p.m. on Friday night.

RRC will travel to New Ulm Cathedral for a 2 p.m. game next Saturday.