FARGO (NewsDakota)- The New Rockford-Sheyenne/Maddock football program has felt a lot of different emotions since the defense of their state championship began last month.  And Friday morning, they made sure elation was the final one.

With Tucker Faul’s #57 jersey hanging on the sideline, the Rockets became the first team in over a decade to repeat as 9-Man State Champions with a 38-22 win over LaMoure-Litchville/Marion inside the FargoDome.

In a shocking turn of events, two teams who combined for 978 first half points this season played out a scoreless first quarter.  But in the second, Easton Simon found Thomas Allmaras for the first of his three touchdowns in earning offensive MVP of the game and it was 8-0.  An onside kick later, Allmaras dove in from a yard out and it was 16-0 Rockets (13-0).  On the next NR-S/M possession, Simon found Easton Benz for a nine yard touchdown and it was 22-0 at the half.

But the Loboes (11-1) responded in the third as QB Mason Warcken plunged in from three yards to cut the lead 22-8 before Warcken found Logan Potts in the end zone on fourth down for a thirteen yard scoring pass and it was suddenly 22-16.  But Simon found Jackson Schumacher from six yards to regain control at 28-16 through three.

In the fourth, Simon again found Allmaras from fifteen yards and though the Loboes scored on a late one yard run from Warcken, it was not enough.

The Rockets became the first 9-man team to repeat as champions since 2013-14 (Cavalier).  Simon threw for 420 yards, crossing the 9,000 yard plateau in his career, while standout LaMoure-LM senior Gunner Thielges was held to 97 yards rushing in defeat.