‘Learned a little bit tonight’
Second quarter costly in GHEC/T\'s defeat to Wabasso
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GRANADA - Head coach Alex Roorda and his Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman team learned on Thursday night. They learned what it was like to play against some of the best competition in the Minnesota State High School League football.
The Jaguars welcomed a Wabasso team that had impressively begun 2026. Not only did the Rabbits take down their first two opponents by an average victory margin of over 60 points, but the program saw a No. 3 ranking in the latest MaxPreps 9-man poll, trailing only Edgerton and Mille Lacs. Their performance at GHEC High School Football Field properly backed that reputation.
Wabasso's balanced scoring attack scored two touchdowns in the first three quarters. While Jaguars quarterback Bowan Sill punched in the first touchdown allowed by the Rabbits’ defense this season, the stingy scheme held a high-tempo GHEC/T offense to 169 yards. It was this recipe that earned Wabasso the dominant 46-6 victory.
"As I said before [the season started], our whole mantra this season is, 'Brick by Brick,' and we are building, and building, and building right now," Roorda said. "Today we built. I told them that, 'You are either winning or learning,' and we learned a little bit tonight."
A three-series stretch turned the Rabbits’ 14-0 lead into a four-possession advantage heading into halftime. It was a shift in the contest that turned all momentum to the visiting team in just 10 minutes of gameplay.
At the start of the second quarter, Jaguar quarterback Bowan Sill began to orchestrate what became his team's most productive offensive series. Three straight Sill scrambles set up a Jonah Moeller scamper to the Rabbits’ 14-yard line. But five plays later, Wabasso took back possession. Sill couldn't connect with Elijah Jensen on a crucial fourth-and-7.
Wabasso responded with a long, impressive drive of its own. Most of which came from the legs of Joseph Rohlik, who picked up a chunk of his 153 total yards after tallying eight carries and a reception. Following Nolan Leopold's 7-yard rush to the Jaguars 23, Rohlik did the rest of the work, touching the ball five consecutive times to punch in his team's third score.
Two plays later, Sill threw his second interception attempting to hit Jensen on a deep cross. Leopold returned to GHEC/T's 20 before Brooks Baune did the rest on his screen reception from quarterback Drew Kemp, who finished with 10 completions for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Just like that, the game had flipped on its head. And all it took was three series.
"Their running backs are good and fast. Plus, they have a great offensive line to block for them," Roorda said. "It was tough. We had guys in spots, and they were a little more physical than we were tonight."
The Rabbits scored on their first two series of the third quarter. Kemp's deep connection to Jack Burns put Wabasso inside the goal line and set the quarterback up for his lone rushing touchdown.
Rohlik ended things with his most impressive run yet. The senior took a carry up the middle before bouncing left and down his team's sideline. Nobody touched him before he crossed the pylon. Wabasso finished with 421 total yards, 299 of which came from its strong rushing attack. Four Rabbits ball carriers had at least 35 yards.
Thursday's result marks GHEC/T's second straight loss following its previous defeat to Edgerton last week. Roorda, however, remains confident in a team that sees many new faces move to the varsity level. Next week's practice schedule has the same mantra as before. Building each day, each snap and each opportunity "Brick by Brick."
"That was the conversation we had at the end [of the game] here," Roorda said. "We can move the ball on the best. We moved it last week, and we moved it this week. We just came up a couple yards short. But that's where we are going to get it right and get it figured out."