Blue Eagles Crash Seminole Homecoming Party
Magnolia’s Stephen “Rogo” Rogalski became the school’s all-time leader in receiving yards Sept. 28 as the Blue Eagles ran over the Monroe Seminoles 35-15 on Monroe’s homecoming night in Woodsfield.
Magnolia took the opening kickoff and went on a 17-play, 73-yard drive that was capped off by a Tanner Hanna-to-Rogalski eight-yard touchdown catch. The Eagles would add Clemens Raitmayr’s extra point kick for a 7-0 Magnolia lead and the last points to be scored in the first period.
In the second period, Hanna handed off to Drew Keller, who pitched it Rogalski on a double-reverse for a 65-yard TD scamper and a 14-0 Blue Eagle advantage. Monroe Central got its first points of the game on a 67-yard pitch-and-catch and a point after to make it a game.
After the ensuing kick, it was the Drew Keller and Gage Rohde Show. Rohde chewed up 15 yards on a blast down the middle. Keller tacked on a pair of Hanna screen passes that went for 31 and 14 yards to move the ball to the Seminole three-yard line. Rohde then punched it in to up the Eagle lead to 20-7.
After the kick to Monroe, Magnolia got the ball back when Kyle Ritz recovered a Seminole fumble and the Big Blue defense held the pesky Seminoles for the rest of the half.
After the Monroe Central crowned its Homecoming Queen, Magnolia would take the second half kick into Seminole territory, but would turn it over on downs. The Blue Eagle defense would hold Monroe and get the ball back at the Seminole 45 yard line to start its next series of plays.
Nice runs by Rohde and Keller – plus a fourth down seven-yard Hanna-to-Gage Deem pass play had Magnolia inside the Seminole Red Zone. Keller moved the ball to the ‘Noles’ four yard line before the Monroe defense backed the Eagles up on a two-yard loss. Hanna then found Jacob Brill in the back of the end zone for a Big Blue score and a 28-7 lead.
The Eagles opened the final period at their own 33-yard line. After an MHS penalty and a ‘Nole tackle for loss of yardage, Keller galloped for eight yards to set up a third and long. On the next play, it appeared that Hanna would toss an interception. But, never fear, Rogalski was there. He wrestled the ball away for a 65-yard TD pitch-and-catch that gave him the school’s record for most receiving yards – 3,307 – and a 35-7 MHS lead.
Monroe Central would end all scoring with a 75-yard kick-off return and a two-point conversion run.
Rohde had 116 yards rushing, while Keller tacked on 96 more yards to lead the ground game. Rogalski added 56 yards and a touchdown on two carries, while Hanna added eight yards on the ground.
Through the air, Hanna was 8-14 for 131-yards and three TDs, with Rogalski hauling in four of them for 72 yards and two TDs. Keller caught two passes for 45 yards, while Deem hauled in one pass for eight yards and Brill caught one pass for six yards and a touchdown.
The Eagles moved the chains 16 times to only six for Monroe, but the were charged with six penalties for 40 lost yards. Monroe lost 35 yards on four infractions.
The Big Blue defenders didn’t budge a bit. They held the ‘Noles to negative yards rushing, while giving up 8-24 completions for 114 yards. Ritz and Cole Seckman each recovered fumbles.
The Blue Eagles are now ranked first in OVAC Class-AAA, while moving to the top eight Class-A schools in the state.
The Eagles will now take on the 0-6 Weir High Red Riders in Weirton Friday at 7:30 p.m.