Highland walked into Rocket Booster Stadium for Saturday’s 4A state semifinal averaging 53 points a game, but the Bulldogs didn’t score their first point until the middle of the third quarter against Rochester. By that point, Nic Baker and the Rockets offense had already given themselves a 28-0 lead and that held and then some in a 31-14 Rochester win.
In the process, Baker passed Wes Lunt for Rochester’s single season passing record. The senior quarterback was 16-for-29 while throwing for 192 yards and two touchdowns. He entered the night needing 163 yards to pass Lunt’s mark of 3,654 passing yards in a single season.
Junior Rockets’ cornerback Riley lewis intercepted Highland quarterback Garrett Marti twice in the win.
Rochester will play Morris on Friday at 7pm as they attempt to win their seventh state title in the last eight years.
