A four-score deficit. A furious comeback. Overtime. A blocked kick to end it. The rivalry game between Rockhurst and St. Thomas Aquinas was not short on tension or triumph–for the Hawklets, at least.
Despite some solid plays by Rockhurst, the Saints dominated the scoreboard in the first half. A four-yard touchdown run, followed by passes of 35 and 36 yards, respectively, put Rockhurst in a 21-0 hole by halftime. The visibly disappointed student section of Rockhurst began to clear out around that time.
The second half didn’t necessarily start any better. The Saints punched in another rushing touchdown early in the third quarter, bringing the score to 28-0.
After that, the tide began to turn, however. Senior quarterback Ethan Hansen hit classmate Jack Bichelmeyer for a 14-yard touchdown, getting the Hawklets’ offense on the board.
On Aquinas’ next possession, senior defensive lineman Vince White forced and recovered a fumble by the home team, giving Rockhurst the ball on the Saints’ side of the field.
After senior running back Aidan Ryan punched in a touchdown from the 1-yard line, the Hawklets successfully went for two, narrowing the deficit to 28-15.
The Saints responded on their next possession, driving down the field and capping it with a 17-yard touchdown pass. That would be the final score of a back-and-forth third quarter, as the Saints carried a 35-15 lead into the final frame.
Aquinas added a field goal to start the fourth quarter, but Rockhurst bounced back with a touchdown. Hansen connected with Bichelmeyer again. The Hawklets would successfully convert the 2-point attempt, trimming the deficit to 15, 38-23.
After recovering an onside kick, Rockhurst cashed in with a 45-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Maeson Tunley. The extra point made it a 38-30 game.
At this point, excitement was mounting on the Rockhurst side of the field. Students who left at halftime started to return. Enthusiasm and anticipation grew even higher when the Hawklets recovered a fumble around midfield, giving them a chance to tie with 1:57 left in the game.
Ryan would make the turnover count, scoring from a yard out with :24 left on the clock. Hansen would then hit Ryan on the 2-point try to tie the game and force overtime.
In Kansas, the overtime rules call for both teams to start with the ball on the opposing 10-yard line.
Rockhurst started with the ball. Ryan would score his third touchdown of the night and give the Hawklets their first lead all evening, 45-38.
With the pressure on, Aquinas would respond with a touchdown of their own, making the score 45-44, but senior wide receiver/linebacker Mitch Forbes got a finger on the extra point try, with an assist from sophomore Jack Manning’s helmet, denying the Saints the tie and sealing the win for Rockhurst.
The whole team ran on the field in celebration of the unlikely victory, which ran the Hawklets’ record to 5-1.
