Ryan Kasowski’s wait is over.
It took six games, but the first-year East Grand Forks Senior High football coach is in the win column. The Green Wave went heavy with the ground game Friday to beat visiting Roseau 21-7.
“I knew it would only be a matter of time,’’ said Kasowski, whose team improved to 1-5.
“It feels good. But I’m more happy for the kids. They’ve worked hard. There is some relief. But you know sooner or later it would go our way.’’
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The way of the Wave was on the ground. Senior High had its most balanced rushing attack of the season. Quarterback Trevor Selk had 19 carries for 133 yards. Jordan Young picked up 93 yards on 16 carries, while power back Brady McDonald rushed for 67 yards on 17 carries. Both Selk and Young had season-best rushing yardage.
“The (opponents’) passing game is what has killed us this year,’’ said Roseau coach George Ziegler, whose team dropped to 1-5. “Our run defense has been the best part of our defense this year. But they blocked well and kept running it up the middle.’’
Roseau took the early lead on a gamble. With a fourth-and-3 on its own 24-yard line, Roseau opted to run a play rather than punt. On a counter, Reilly Stroot broke free on the left side and went 76 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 Rams lead with 7:20 left in the first half.
“I thought that would get us going,’’ Ziegler said. “But we kept shooting ourselves in the foot after that.’’
The Rams twice had second-half drives inside the Green Wave 30 halted by turnovers.
The lead lasted until McDonald scored on a 1-yard blast up the middle, with Young running in the 2-point conversion for an 8-7 lead with 1:17 left in the half.
Selk (2-yard run in the third quarter) and McDonald (1-yard run in the fourth quarter) added touchdowns in the second half. Selk attempted only seven passes, completing one for 22 yards. But the triple-threat backfield offset the limited passing.
“This was the first time where the whole running game was clicking,’’ Kasowski said. “The backs were running hard and hitting holes. The line was doing its job. The way it was going, their defense had to look out for three guys, not just one or two.
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“Trevor did a good job of reading the defense and making good decisions as far as when to keep the ball and when to give it up.’’
Stroot rushed for 96 yards and Landman passed for 83 to lead the Rams’ offense.
