Prep Football: Underwood knocks out defending section champion Pirates, 22-8

The No. 2-seeded Underwood Rockets scored three unanswered touchdowns to fend off defending champion Verndale 22-6 in the Section 4 Nine-man quarterfinals Tuesday.

Zach Meidinger burst through the snow for a 80-yard touchdown rumble that gave the seventh-seeded Verndale Pirates the 6-0 lead at 7:20 of the second quarter.

The lead would be short-lived as the Rockets answered on their next possession on a 33-yard run from quarterback Dalton Jampsa two minutes later. Brett Collins added the conversion run, giving Underwood the lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Underwood broke open the game with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns. Jampsa found receiver Ben Woodman for a 25-yard touchdown pass and Collins capped the scoring with a one-yard plunge with 6:25 remaining in the game.

The wet, soggy conditions hampered both teams in the sloppy, turnover-filled game.

Underwood (7-2) hosts the No. 3 Isle Huskies (7-2) at 7 p.m. Saturday in the semifinals.

Verndale finishes the season with an 2-7 mark.

Section 4 9-man Quarterfinals
No. 7 Verndale at No. 2 Underwood on October 26
Rockets 22, Pirates 6
Verndale 0 6 0 0—6
Underwood 0 8 0 14—22
Second Quarter
V—Zach Meidinger 80 yd run (PAT failed) 7:20
U—Dalton Jampsa 33 yd run (Brett Collins run) 5:08
Fourth Quarter
U—Ben Woodman 25 yd pass from Jampsa (Jampsa run) 11:03
U—Collins 1 yd run (PAT failed) 6:25
Team Stats
Not available
Individual Stats
Not available