Rochester rallies to edge Bluejays by a point on gridiron, 27-26

The third-ranked Minnesota West football team led 26-7 at the half Saturday, but visiting Rochester rallied to grab a 27-26 win over the Bluejays.

A safety thanks to a bad Yellow Jackets snap put Minnesota West up 2-0 less than three minutes into the game, and Bluejay QB Armon Vinson showed both elusiveness and strength on a 23-yard touchdown run later in the first quarter to put the home team up 9-0.

An electrifying 83-yard interception return by Tavion Brown, followed by a two-point conversion, made a 17-0 Bluejay advantage with less than a minute gone by in the second quarter. Yet another bad snap on a punt resulted in a second Minnesota West safety less than two minutes later, and the score was 19-0.

Rochester got on the board with 4:08 left before halftime on a five-yard TD run by backup quarterback Devin Gonzalez, who entered the game earlier in the quarter. Vinson, though, teamed up with Ethan Pridgen on an 11-yard scoring strike with just 16 seconds left until halftime, and the PAT kick made it 26-7.

The second half wound up being all Rochester. After a Justin Spear interception return for a Bluejay TD that would have made it 32-7 was negated by a penalty, the Yellow Jackets got a 75-yard scoring scamper from Kyron Burroughs to make it 26-14 and a 1-yard plunge from Gonzalez for a 26-20 contest with five minutes left in the third quarter. Gonzalez then scored again on a 10-yard run with 12:50 remaining in the game, and the ensuing PAT proved to be the game-winner.

Minnesota West was again plagued by turnovers, as it lost two fumbles and threw three interceptions. The 3-3 Bluejays will play Minnesota North-Vermilion next Saturday.

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The third-ranked Lady Jay volleyball team was on the road at Anoka-Ramsey and won 3-0 by scores of 25-9, 25-17, 25-17. 

Minnesota West is now 25-3 on the season, Kylee Larsen had nine kills in the match, while Aleah Wagner contributed 11 digs and Kadyn Paulson and Aubrey Weedman 10 each. Myah Dausel had four aces serves; Lydia Moore and Kate Slettum added two each.

The Lady Jays host a triangular today and meet Iowa Central at 3 p.m. and the Mt. Marty JV at 7 p.m.

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The Bluejays soccer team was also away from home Saturday and played to a 1-1 draw with Alexandria. Minnesota West, now 2-5-2 overall, will play at home Friday against Dakota County Technical College.

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Danny Banegas scored the only goal the Worthington Trojans' boys soccer team would need Saturday as WHS closed out its regular season with a 1-0 non-conference win at Jordan.

The Trojans concluded their season with a record of 11-4-1 and posted their ninth shutout of the fall — a testament to their disciplined and cohesive back line. Despite the triumph, Worthington head coach Juan Flores explained that the team has room to improve, particularly on offense in terms of finishing off more scoring opportunities,

The Trojans will be a No. 4 seed in the upcoming Section 2AA Tournament. They'll host fifth-seeded Marshall at 7 p.m. Tuesday. If they win, they'll play again Thursday.

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In girls soccer Saturday, WHS was defeated 9-0 at Albert Lea. The 0-14-1 Trojans will be the No. 7 seed in sectionals and play at second-seeded St. Peter at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

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The Worthington Trojans were defeated in their regular-season home football finale Friday night as they were beaten by No. 3 ranked Waseca 42-13.

The Trojans outscored the Bluejays 13-7 in the second half following a 35-0 halftime deficit. Isaiah Schroeder hooked up with Christian Dailey for a 59-yard touchdown with 1:57 left in the third quarter for the first WHS score. Kevin Ramirez ran 38 yards on the final play of the game for the other Trojan TD.

Ramirez led the Worthington rushing attack with 51 yards, while Dailey's 59 yards led receivers. Wilson Mahlberg paced the Trojan defense with eight total tackles. Brayden Raymo had six total tackles — including one for a loss — and Arthur Htoo also had six.

WHS, 0-6, plays at Belle Plaine this coming Friday.

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In high school volleyball, Worthington won twice and lost three times during a Friday and Saturday tournament in Marshall.

On Friday, the Trojans blanked Dawson-Boyd 3-0 by scores of 25-15, 25-14, 25-20 and then lost to Wabasso 25-5, 25-11, 25-19. 

On Saturday, Worthington lost 2-0 to Windom (25-21, 25-21), topped Montevideo 2-0 (25-14, 25-23) and fell to Murray County Central 2-0 (25-17, 25-22). 

The Trojans next play Tuesday at St. Peter.

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In area high school football Friday night:

Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 42, Westbrook-Walnut Grove 19

Adrian-Ellsworth 53, Granada-Huntley-East Chain-Truman 14

Jackson County Central 54, LeSueur-Henderson 20

Hills-Beaver Creek 41, Edgerton 8

St. James Area 40, Martin County West 8

Murray County Central 62, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 12

Luverne 28, Minnesota Valley Lutheran 6

Windom Area 28, Sibley East 20

Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 18, Pipestone Area 14

Fairmont 35, Belle Plaine 0

Marshall 13, Orono 12

Unity Christian 42, Sheldon 7

Cherokee 43 Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley 20

Western Christian 34, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 33

Kuemper Catholic 41, Spirit Lake 21

Okoboji 34, Southeast Valley 31 (OT)

West Hancock 41, Sibley-Ocheyedan 28

Sioux Central-Sioux Rapids 38, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 18

In area high school volleyball Friday:

Adrian-Ellsworth 2, Montevideo 0

Adrian-Ellsworth 2, Lac Qui Parle Valley 0

Adrian-Ellsworth 2, Westbrook-Walnut Grove 1

Jackson County Central 2, New Ulm Cathedral 0

Eastview 2, Jackson County Central 0

Westbrook-Walnut Grove 2, Lac Qui Parle Valley 0

Westbrook-Walnut Grove 2, Montevideo 0

Renville County West 2, Windom 0

Windom 2, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop 0

Lakeview 2, Windom 1

MACCRAY 3, Hills-Beaver Creek 0

Hills-Beaver Creek 3, Litchfield 0

Murray County Central 3, Springfield 0

Central Minnesota Christian 3, Murray County Central 0

Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 2, Luverne 1

Luverne 2, Kirkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 1

In high school volleyball Saturday:

Wabasso 2, Adrian-Ellsworth 0

Renville County West 2, Adrian-Ellsworth 0

Adrian-Ellsworth 2, Westbrook-Walnut Grove 1

Triton 2, Jackson County Central 1

Jackson County Central 2, Burnsville 1

Jackson County Central 2, White Bear Lake 1 

MACCRAY 2, Westbrook-Walnut Grove 0

Cedar Mountain 2, Westbrook-Walnut Grove 1

Lakeview 2, Murray County Central 1

Murray County Central 2, Hills-Beaver Creek 0

Montevideo 2, Hills-Beaver Creek 1

Lakeview 2, Luverne 1

Luverne 2, Hills-Beaver Creek 0

Luverne 2, Redwood Valley 1

Windom 2, Lakeview 1

Windom 2, Redwood Valley 1