Roseville Dominates Wolfpack in Win

Matt Peckham, a sophomore fullback of the Roseville football team, has moved up the ladder in a hurry.

“This week, I got a chance in practice, and I think I made the most of it,” Peckham said. “The coaches were willing to give me a shot.”

Peckham scored two rushing touchdowns at fullback to help the Raiders crush Park of Cottage Grove on Friday, 48-23. He played on the sophomore team the week before and suited up for the varsity opener against White Bear Lake.

Peckham saw minimal playing time in the WBL game, but Raiders coach Chris Simdorn moved him to fullback to give the Raiders more punch in the running attack.

“We were looking for a big kid to be our inside run game,” Simdorn said. “Matt came in and did a really nice job. He gave an inside run game to set-up an outside run game. There’s a lot of teams that are going to try to take Emeche [Wells] away, so we need to be able to pound that football inside.”

Raiders receiver/defensive back Emeche Wells capitalized on the outside running game opening up. He shredded the Wolfpack defense with three touchdowns, including a 70-yard run from scrimmage. He also caught one TD pass to help the Raiders to a 21-16 first half lead. He caught a pass in the third quarter in the back of the end zone to put the Raiders in command, 34-16.

“He’s one of the best athletes on the field each time he steps on the field,” Simdorn said. “We need to make plays and be that big-play guy for us in the run game, pass game and on defense too.”

The Raiders demonstrated a total team turnaround with the victory after a home loss to the Bears the previous week. The Raiders defense snuffed the Wolfpack, and the Raiders offense controlled the ball in addition to racking up points.

“The offense was way-focused,” Raiders linebacker Siah Hawton said. “They didn’t make mistakes, and whatever mistakes they made, we talked about it in halftime, and they corrected it.”

Hawton nabbed an interception immediately following Peckham’s second TD of the game. The interception set up a rushing TD by Jordon Skinner for a 48-16 Raiders lead.

“It was like time stopped,” Hawton said about his interception.  “The ball just hangs in the air and you catch it.”

The Raiders’ defensive line put pressure on the Wolfpack quarterback, and the Raider corner backs covered the Wolfpack receivers tightly. It led to multiple three-and-outs, turnover on downs and two interceptions.

“The defensive line really showed up tonight and did exactly what they’re supposed to do,” Hawton said. “It made my job easier. It made everyone’s job easier.”

Zack Moriarty picked off the first pass of the night for the Raiders. He also caught one of quarterback Jacques Perra’s four touchdown passes.

Brandon Bouma stepped in at left tackle for the Raiders after Jimmy Devaney suffered a concussion early in the game. In Bouma’s first varsity appearance he helped the Raiders offense  amass 461 total yards and 48 points.

The Raiders improved their record to 1-1 in the Suburban East Conference. They will travel to Hastings to take on the Hastings Raiders on Friday, Sept. 16.

“They’re always tough,” Peckham said. “It will be our first road game. It will be a battle, but we can pull through if we work hard enough.”