By Jacob Heid

Sports Editor

STEVENS POINT – A Central-Wisconsin Conference-Small matchup between the Pacelli and Rosholt football teams on Sept. 14 became a big one for both sides to regain confidence. 

Rosholt took the opening kickoff to the house for an early lead, but Pacelli’s offense became too much in a 36-12 win at Goerke Field in Stevens Point.

“Anytime we can win a conference game, it is a good thing. Our conference is very even, and so we need to play our best to have a chance at winning,” Pacelli Head Coach Drew Nelson said.   

It didn’t take long for the Hornets to put some points on the scoreboard, something they hadn’t done before this game. 

Rosholt scored its first points of the season after Jaxon Peterson took the game’s opening kickoff roughly 90 yards into the end zone for a 6-0 lead.

Rosholt’s defense used that momentum to turn Pacelli over on downs after a failed fourth-down conversion attempt on the Cardinals’ opening drive.

Pacelli senior quarterback Andrew Van Order tied the game late in the first quarter, answering Rosholt’s initial score. 

Van Order found senior Logan Mayer in triple coverage for a 29-yard passing touchdown, tying the game 6-6. 

A sloppy start to the second quarter had both teams trade possession after consecutive fumbles.

After the Cardinals recovered deep in Rosholt territory, Van Order gave Pacelli a 14-6 lead with his second touchdown after a one-yard plunge into the end zone late in the first half.

“I like what the offense did. [The offense] sustained drives and put together a bunch of plays in a row,” Nelson said. “We, unfortunately, have a bit of the injury bug, so we had a lot of moving parts this last week. I really thought a lot of players stepped up in a big way.”

With 2:25 left before halftime, Rosholt walked down the field and scored as time expired on the clock. 

Peterson caught one in the end zone on 4th and 8, putting the Hornets within two at halftime, 14-12, after a failed two-point conversion.

The Cardinals used the ground game to extend the lead to double digits after halftime. 

Freshman Bryce Flaker found a hole and found the end zone from 33 yards out, making it a 22-12 game. 

Flaker made the most of his opportunity in the second half, scoring a second time within minutes to put the Cardinals up 28-12.

Pacelli scored again in the fourth, but the defense played 24 minutes of shutout ball in the second half.

Nelson said coming out at halftime was about showing heart and competing. 

“It was more about going out and playing for each other and giving maximum effort. I think we saw what we are potentially capable of last night in the second half,” Nelson stated.

Pacelli improves to 2-3 (1-2) with the win and faces Assumption on the road on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 11 a.m. 

Rosholt still searches for its first win and falls to 0-5 (0-3) on the season. 

The Hornets’ next matchup is a game vs. Webster on Friday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m.