Quarterback Westyn Amthor makes the exchange with running back Brock Holmes. Holmes ran for 528 yards.

D-ends Ryder Herron and Gabe Gebhards keep the pressure on all night long.

D-lineman Quentin Jackson fights through a hold to get the quarterback.

Defensive backs Tayden Cook and Jack Meyerkorth and linebacker Camden McEnaney all fly to the ball to stop for little to no gain.

Defensive lineman Desmond Chaney and defensive end Gabe Gebhards stop the run. (JR Chaney photos)

The Rock Port Blue Jays traveled to Burlington Junction, Missouri, Friday, October 17, to take on the Nodaway Valley Thunder, ranked fifth in the state.

Nodaway Valley elected to receive the ball to start the game. The Thunder was able to move the ball inside the red zone before the Jays’ defense would get them stopped, forcing a turnover on downs.

The Rock Port offense, in their first series, would struggle and would be forced to punt. Nodaway Valley would connect on a big pass to take the ball inside the five yard line. The Thunder would put the first points on the board on the next play. With the ball on the 30 yard line, the Jays would run three plays before runningback Brock Holmes would go up the middle for a 40-yard touchdown. With the two-point conversion, the Jays would take the lead 8-6.

Nodaway Valley offense kept things going, answering back and bringing the score to 14-8 with 4:26 left to play in the first quarter. The Jays came up short on their next drive turning over on downs, but the Blue Jay defense stepped up forcing the Thunder to punt the ball. With the ball on the 24-yard line Westyn Amthor handed off to Brock Holmes who went 56 yards, bringing the score to 16-14 before the end of the first quarter.

With an interception by Logan Ellis to start the second quarter, the Rock Port offense would go on a run scoring 26 more points in the second quarter to the Thunder’s eight. At halftime the score was 42-22 Rock Port.

The Blue Jay defense was on a mission as they came out of halftime, allowing only one touchdown, and the Blue Jays’ offense kept things rolling as they put up 26 more points in the third quarter and six in the fourth, bringing the final score to 74-28. Runningback Brock Holmes was unstoppable as he racked up 528 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.

Rock Port will be home on Friday night, October 24, to take on Mound City. Seniors and their parents will be recognized that night.