Marengo falls to Rochelle despite nearly 450 yards of total offense

ROCHELLE — Despite totaling nearly 450 yards of offense on the road Friday evening, Marengo was unable to muster any defensive stops against Rochelle, conceding six rushing touchdowns and an onside kick recovery as the Indians fell, 41-32.

Rochelle (4-2, 3-1 Interstate 8/Kishwaukee River Blue) utilized its power rushing attack throughout the game, generating 366 yards on the ground. The Hubs melted almost nine minutes off the clock during their opening drive in the first quarter, with fullback Cody Stover-Cullum plowing forward for a 1-yard touchdown run to give Rochelle the early lead.

Marengo (3-3, 2-1) was just as potent on offense, but the Indians had a different approach, leaning on quarterback Joshua Holst, who was 22 of 26 for 323 yards and two touchdowns, and their quick-striking ability in the passing game to set up a 2-yard touchdown run from Dylan Stolz. Marengo missed the extra-point attempt, which led to the Indians attempting five two-point conversions in the game while making only one.

“I saw two offenses that couldn’t be stopped tonight,” Marengo head coach Paul Forsythe said. “That was pretty much the story of the game. We need to get healthy and find ways to play better defense. We need to play better defense and we need to be better in the kicking game.”

The Hubs continued methodically moving the football in the second quarter, with Stover-Cullum scoring the second of his three touchdowns Friday on a 6-yard run to put Rochelle ahead, 14-6. Holst fired the first of his three touchdown passes on Marengo’s next possession, launching a 60-yard bomb to wide receiver Exzavier Meyer, who beat Rochelle cornerback Aidan Rodriguez to the end zone. Meyer finished with three catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns.

Rochelle tailback Garrett Gensler broke several Marengo tackles on his 26-yard touchdown run up the middle that gave the Hubs a 21-12 lead late in the second quarter. The Indians had one final answer before halftime, with Holst running for a 2-yard touchdown to make it a three-point game entering the third quarter, where Marengo held a brief lead after Holst and Meyer connected on a 33-yard touchdown strike, with Meyer beating Rodriguez once again.

The Indians had a chance for their first defensive stand of the night, forcing Rochelle into a fourth down at the Marengo 28-yard line. But Gensler proved too tough to bring down once again, with the Hub tailback shedding tacklers for a 28-yard touchdown run through the middle that put Rochelle ahead, 28-26, midway through the third quarter. Marengo then failed to recover an onside kick, leading to another Hub touchdown on a 3-yard rush from Stover-Cullum.

Marengo tried to make one last effort in the fourth quarter, running the ball effectively with Stolz and burning some time off the block. The Indians scored on a 2-yard rushing touchdown by Stolz, who had a team-high 64 yards on the ground, to make it a 35-32 game with 4:47 remaining. Marengo’s defense had a second chance for a stop, but the Indians couldn’t contain Hub wingback Trey Taft, who exploded around the left side for a 59-yard touchdown run.

Marengo will look to bounce back when the Indians host Plano at home next Friday.