STORY CITY — The Roland-Story Norsemen football team returned to action on Friday night, as they welcomed in the Des Moines Christian Lions in non-district action for the Norsemen’s home opener at Kerry Van Winkle Field in Story City. Roland-Story entered at 1-0 and ranked #4 in Class 2A, while Des Moines Christian entered at 1-0 and ranked #10 in Class 3A.
Friday’s first quarter would go scoreless as both defenses operated at a high-level. Turnovers and punts would rule much of the 2nd quarter as well, but it was Des Moines Christian getting on the board at the end of the first half on a 5-yard touchdown run from quarterback Max Town with 3 seconds left to put the Lions ahead 7-0 at halftime.
The 3rd quarter would be much of the same as the defenses ruled the entire frame leading into the 4th quarter. Des Moines Christian would be the ones to capitalize on the opportunity, scoring on a 3rd-and-goal touchdown pass from Max Town to tight end Kyle Friend from 2 yards out to put the Lions ahead 14-0. Following Colin Willis’s 3rd interception of the game, DMC converted on a short field, scoring on a 3-yard touchdown run by Henry Gorter to put the Lions up 21-0. Roland-Story would have a response, as Colin Willis found Aiden Frey for a 32-yard touchdown pass to make the score 21-7, but Des Moines Christian would put the nail in the coffin with a 54-yard touchdown run by Davis Tokheim to punctuate a 28-7 upset by the Lions.
Colin Willis would go 11-for-29 with 161 yards, a touchdown and 3 interceptions, as Cody Long carried for 48 yards on 17 attempts. Aiden Frey finished with 3 receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown, as Luke Thoreson caught 6 passes for 77 yards. Long would lead the Norsemen with 12 tackles and 1.5 TFL, while Wyatt Ramus had 9 tackles, 2.5 TFL and a sack.
Roland-Story football returns to action on Friday, as they wrap-up non-district action with a trip to State Center to take on the West Marshall Trojans with kickoff at 7 PM.