DENVER, Ia. — The Roland-Story Norsemen football team returned to action on Friday night, as they made the trip into the Cedar Valley to take on the Denver Cyclones in their Class 2A, District 4 opener at Denver High School. The Norsemen entered with a record of 2-1, while Denver entered with a record of 2-1.
It would be a lightning fast start for the Norsemen, scoring on the 2nd play of the game on a 77-yard touchdown pass from Colin Willis to Luke Thoreson as the Norsemen took a 6-0 lead. Denver would score on their opening drive on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Joerger to Brayton Hovey to tie the score at 6-6. Roland-Story would respond in kind with a 29-yard touchdown run from Fiston Carlson as the Norsemen led Denver 13-6 after the first quarter. Denver punted on their ensuing possession as the Norsemen marched down and score on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Colin Willis to Brayden Kilstofte as the Norse led 19-6. Roland-Story would add one more touchdown before half on a 46-yard bomb from Colin Willis to Cooper Triggs as Roland-Story led 26-6 at halftime.
Denver turned it over on downs to start the 2nd half, as the Norsemen scored on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Willis to Brayden Kilstofte to put Roland-Story ahead 32-6, before Fiston Carlson scored a touchdown from a yard out late in the 3rd quarter to put Norsemen up 39-6. Denver would score a touchdown in the 4th quarter to bring the final to 39-14 in favor of Roland-Story.
Norsemen quarterback Colin Willis had a big night, going 18-for-23 for 317 yards and 4 touchdowns, while also becoming Roland-Story’s all-time passing leader at 3,340 yards in his career, surpassing Brett Staton’s record of 3,084 set in 2016. Luke Thoreson caught 4 balls for 137 yards and a touchdown, as Brody Kilstofte caught 3 passes for 63 yards and 2 touchdowns, while also intercepting 2 passes on defense.
Roland-Story football returns to action on Friday, when they host the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings for homecoming in Class 2A, District 4 action at Kerry Van Winkle Field, with kickoff at 7 PM on 95.7 KQWC or streaming online at kqradio.com.