RCTC Advances to Championship with 30-10 Semifinal Win Over Central Lakes

In a hard-fought NJCAA semifinal matchup on November 2, the Rochester Community and Technical College Yellowjackets punched their ticket to the championship game with a 30-20 win over Central Lakes College-Brainerd. The victory, played in front of a lively home crowd in Rochester, showcased RCTC's explosive offense, opportunistic defense, and special teams excellence.

From the opening kickoff, RCTC set the tone. Running back Kyron Burroughs delivered a career-defining performance, rushing for 205 yards on 18 carries and scoring three touchdowns. His 85-yard sprint in the first quarter electrified the stadium and gave the Yellowjackets an early lead they never relinquished.

Central Lakes, despite entering the game with a 3-7 record, showed resilience. Quarterback Scott Lewis connected on a few short passes, and Deyon Loveless led the rushing attack with 88 yards on 15 carries. The Raiders managed to keep the game close early, trailing just 14-7 after the first quarter and 21-10 at halftime.

RCTC quarterback Devin Gonzalez was steady under center, completing 11 of 28 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown. His favorite targets were Tyheim McNeil (5 receptions, 70 yards) and Jayden Homuth (3 receptions, 62 yards), who consistently moved the chains and kept the Central Lakes defense on its heels.

The second half saw RCTC's defense clamp down. Led by linebacker T'Kyerian Gray, who recorded a game-high 11 solo tackles and two tackles for loss, the Yellowjackets stifled Central Lakes' offense. Defensive back Montavious Martin provided a spark for the Raiders with a 90-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, briefly narrowing the gap to 30-20. But RCTC's defense held firm, forcing turnovers and limiting big plays.

RCTC's special teams were another difference-maker. Kicker Chase Karpowich was perfect on the day, converting all four extra points and booming kickoffs for an average of 50 yards. Punter Jayden Homuth also contributed with three punts averaging 44.7 yards, including one inside the 20-yard line. Return specialist Noah Washington added 120 yards on four kickoff returns, consistently giving RCTC favorable field position.

The Yellowjackets' defensive unit was relentless, recording three interceptions—one each by Trenton Bronaugh, Nykeim McNeil, and Robert Hawkins. Bronaugh also broke up a pass and contributed three solo tackles. The team totaled 10 tackles for loss, with Daniel Graham, King General Thompson, and Titus Bowman each making key stops behind the line of scrimmage.

RCTC's balanced attack—206 rushing yards, 160 passing yards, and 190 return yards—proved too much for Central Lakes. The Yellowjackets outgained the Raiders 366 to 159 in total offense and averaged 7.2 yards per play compared to Central Lakes' 3.2.

Coach's View: RCTC head coach praised his team's execution and resilience. "We knew Central Lakes would come in hungry and physical. Our guys responded with discipline and big plays when it mattered. Kyron [Burroughs] was phenomenal, and our defense stepped up in the second half."

With the win, RCTC improves to 8-1 on the season and advances to the MCAC championship game against NDSCS on November 9th at the Rochester Regional Stadium.  The winner of that game will likely secure a spot in the National Title game.