RCTC Blanks M State Fergus Falls in Statement Win
The #3-ranked Rochester Community and Technical College Yellowjackets delivered a commanding performance Saturday afternoon at RCTC Stadium, shutting out Minnesota State - Fergus Falls 63-0 in a game that showcased their offensive firepower and defensive dominance.
From the opening whistle, RCTC set the tone, scoring 28 points in the first quarter and never looking back. The Yellowjackets added 21 more in the second, cruising into halftime with a 49-0 lead. They tacked on a touchdown in each of the final two quarters to complete the rout.
Quarterback Devin Gonzalez led the aerial assault, completing 13 of 16 passes for 204 yards and four touchdowns. He spread the ball efficiently, with standout receiver Lance Kellum hauling in five catches for 82 yards and a score. Jayden Homuth added three receptions for 47 yards and two touchdowns, while Tyheim McNeil and Cole Thompson each contributed receiving scores.
RCTC’s depth at quarterback was on full display, with Daemon Jones, Merrick Woods, and Desmond Washington all seeing action. Washington was particularly efficient, going 5-for-5 for 33 yards and two touchdowns.
On the ground, Kyron Burroughs exploded for 84 yards on just six carries, including a 70-yard touchdown run. The Yellowjackets rushed for 145 yards total, averaging 5.8 yards per carry, with contributions from eight different ball carriers.
Defensively, RCTC was relentless. They held M State to just 69 total yards of offense. The Spartans managed only 24 passing yards and 45 rushing yards, averaging a mere 1.4 yards per play. The Yellowjackets recorded two sacks and nine tackles for loss, with Dylan Sloan and Nykeim McNeil each registering a sack. Sloan also led the team with three solo tackles.
RCTC’s secondary was opportunistic, intercepting two passes—one each by Noah Washington and Coaleon Johnson. The defense also forced and recovered a fumble, courtesy of Daniel Graham.
Special teams were equally sharp. Kicker Chase Karpowich was perfect on extra points, going 9-for-9, and averaged 49.3 yards on kickoffs. Punter Jayden Homuth booted two punts for 80 yards, pinning M State deep in their own territory.
The Spartans struggled to find any rhythm offensively. Quarterback Nolan Sharapata completed just 4 of 10 passes for 24 yards and threw one interception. M State’s rushing attack was stifled, with no runner gaining more than 12 yards. Their punting game was also ineffective, with nine punts totaling zero net yards due to blocked or short kicks.
With the win, RCTC improves its record and continues its push toward postseason contention. The team will look to carry this momentum into next week’s matchup with fellow MCAC co-leader NDSCS on the road.
