Photo by Samantha Davis Red Rock Central’s Austin Imker (84) and Abe Stavnes (9) run the Section 2, Nine-Player championship trophy over to the crowd after completing a 26-21 comeback victory over Wabasso to make a return to the state tournament. Senior Carter Therkilsen scored the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds of the game. Also pictured is tight end Jake Erickson (25).

By Samantha Davis

sports@nujournal.com

COTTONWOOD — The top-seeded Red Rock Central football team overcame a 15-point fourth quarter deficit behind senior Carter Therkilsen’s game-winning touchdown with 13 seconds left for a 26-21 comeback win over No. 2 Wabasso in the Section 2 Nine-Player championship Friday night at Lakeview High School. The win returns the Falcons back to the state tournament after a two-year hiatus, and fourth time in program history.

The Rabbits finish their season 8-2 overall, a significant improvement from its 2-7 campaign last season.

“We stood in the locker room at halftime, and we talked about it. We said we were working every day since December 1st, and I never doubted a single one of our guys. I believed in us. There was no way we’re going to lose this game,” Therkilsen said, emotional. “I was not going to let this be the last time I ever played football, no way. Every single one of them guys worked so hard. I’m so proud of them … We never, never for a second, gave up the whole time.”

Therkilsen scored all four touchdowns on the night, with three all coming in the fourth quarter to bring the Falcons back into the game before taking the lead to win.

RRC trailed the entire night, including a 21-6 deficit entering the final quarter.

“This group of guys has worked so hard from the end of last season … To see them come through and be successful is awesome,” RRC head coach Isaac Jenniges said. “That’s all you can ask for as a coach. I’m super proud of my guys and the way they played.”

The Falcons started the quarter on Wabasso’s 8-yard line after ending the third with a string of carries, with Therkilsen finishing the drive with a pair of carries onto the 1-yard and into the end zone with 10 minutes to go, down 21-12. RRC did not complete its 2-point attempt.

The Falcons took the ball back after forcing a turnover on downs on Wabasso, and carries by Therkilsen and quarterback Abe Stavnes put RRC back in the red zone on the 17-yard line.

Stavnes again put the ball in Therkilsen’s hands for the 17-yard rushing touchdown to cut into a 21-18 deficit with 6:19 to go.

“At halftime, I looked at those guys in the shed over there, and I said, ‘I believe that we’re going to come back and win this game,'” Jenniges said. “‘I believe in each and every one of you. All we got to do is stick to it, and play Red Rock Central football.’ We were able to do that.”

Wabasso broke into RRC territory on its next drive with Drew Kemp passes to Joe Rohlik and Nolan Leopold, but the Falcons continued to hone in to their defense to force an incomplete pass on third down to again regain possession with 2:55 left.

Down from their own 14-yard line, a complete pass along with a Wabasso 15-yard face mask penalty put RRC on the Rabbits’ 49-yard line, with just under two minutes to go.

Carries by Therkilsen and Stavnes got the Falcons’ onto Wabasso’s 24-yard line, which Therkilsen gave RRC another first down on the 11-yard line with 22 seconds left.

On the next play, Therkilsen scored the go-ahead touchdown with the 11-yard rush, electrifying the team, coaching staff and crowd. RRC also completed the 2-point play, taking the 26-21 lead.

“We had to take it one play at a time. Everybody’s got to do their job. We can’t try and be the hero,” Therkilsen said. “Everybody’s got to do their part, and I don’t think that there’s not a team that can beat us if we just do our job.”

To put the dagger on the state-clinching win, Therkilsen finished the night off with an interception on Wabasso’s final drive with just one second left of the clock as the team and coaches crashed the field together.

“I trust my guys 100% that they’re going to give me my blocks, and I’m going to reward them,” Therkilsen said. “It’s all on them. I get my name in the paper and everything, but it’s really them. It is really them. It’s not me. They make me look good.”

Drew Kemp had a pair of touchdowns, along with a pick-6 from Rohlik for the Rabbits’ scores.

“I am very proud of our guys’ effort tonight,” Wabasso head coach Joe Kemp said. “We played a really, really good team. We tried to contain Therkilsen the best that we can … We knew it was going to be this type of battle. But, I am very proud of our defense and everybody. We played a very physical football game.”

Wabasso initially created a 14-0 halftime lead behind a Kemp touchdown less than two minutes in, as the result of a Caden Frericks fumble recovery on the Falcons’ opening drive, followed with a Rohlik pick-6 in the second quarter.

Wabasso, who became a nine-player football team just this year for the first time in program history, and RRC faced each other on Oct. 10 in another competitive game where the Falcons got away with a 28-14 win, being the Rabbits only loss of the year until Friday.

“Building the culture and getting used to winning, we had gotten used to losing for so long, and making the standard the standard,” coach Kemp said regarding Wabasso’s program turnaround. “You’ve got to get to big games like this, and playing them over and over, to know what to expect. What we did tonight was a good first step.”

RRC (10-0) will next prepare for the Nine-Player State Tournament, beginning with quarterfinals on Thursday. Location and time will be released along with seeding over the weekend.