Running the ball and defending at a high level is the recipe for Rosemount football’s success. That formula led the Irish to a Class 6A state championship game appearance last fall.

It has Rosemount back in the state tournament a year later.

Through ball control and a couple of key defensive stands, Rosemount controlled the contest Friday in Woodbury, knocking off the second-seeded Royals, 14-7.

The running game starred in the first half, with Rosemount tallying two full possessions — both of which ended in Joe Meleckzedeck rushing touchdowns. His scores capped lengthy, clock-milking drives.

The Irish opened the game with a 17-play, 72-yard scoring drive. After forcing a Woodbury turnover on downs on the ensuing drive, Rosemount marched on another 15-play scoring drive to make it 14-0.

Woodbury’s second possession of the game started with just two minutes to play in the half. The Royals capitalized on that, though, with George Bjellos hitting Charlie Jacobson for a 2-yard touchdown pass with just 18 seconds to play in the second quarter.

In the second half, both defenses surrendered nothing. Woodbury solved Rosemount’s Power-T running game, with the Irish failing to put any type of drive together.

But Rosemount’s defense met the challenge. Woodbury (5-5) was able to threaten a couple of times, but every time third-seeded Rosemount made the critical stand. The last significant threat came in the final four minutes, as Woodbury moved down to the Rosemount 18-yard line on a 19-yard run from Bjellos on a third down.

The Royals seemed to score two plays later on a run by Isaiah Tisdle, but the play was called back by a holding penalty that put Woodbury far behind the sticks. Rosemount’s Maki Whelan intercepted a pass on fourth down to end the Royals’ threat with 2:51 to play.

Rosemount (6-4) was able to run out the clock from there, largely thanks to a 26-yard screen pass from Gavin Caswell to Jackson Ganser on third and 6. The Irish officially put the game on ice via a 3-yard run from Will Peroutka on a fourth-and-1 carry at the Royals’ 40-yard line.

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