Rosemount survives challenge, defeats Roseville 35-28 in 6A semis

After a season's worth of routs, Rosemount had to play a close game sometime.

The Irish, riding a 10-game winning streak in which they rarely had been challenged, stood up to their first serious challenge since a season-opening overtime loss to Wayzata.

Rosemount's defense proved pliable yet strong, giving up nearly 300 passing yards but holding firm when it had to, beating Roseville 35-28 to advance to the Class 6A championship game.

Rosemount took care of business on the ground, rushing for 327 yards. Dimitri Williams carried the biggest load, running for 135 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Jackson Erdmann showed off some previously unseen rushing abilities, using his legs more than his arm in the second half to pick up key first downs. Erdmann rushed for 74 yards, all after halftime.

Trailing 35-28 late in the fourth quarter, Roseville drove deep into Rosemount territory. But Raiders quarterback Jacques Perra threw incomplete to his favorite receiver, Jesper Horsted, on fourth down and 4 from the Rosemount 19-yard-line.

Rosemount took over with 1:56 left and ran out the clock, thanks to a key 6-yard scramble by Erdmann on third down that barely got past the first-down marker.

"He picked up some pretty big first downs for us," said Jeff Erdmann, Rosemount's head coach and Jackson's father. "That last one was critical."

Roseville gave the first body shot, a 12-yard pass from Perra to Andrew Colvard for a 7-0 lead fewer than three minutes into the game.

Rosemount responded quickly on a 25-yard touchdown reception by Tyler Hartigan fewer than two minutes later, tying the score at 7-7.

Touchdowns came quickly after that, with both teams scoring twice offensively. Rosemount led 27-21 at halftime on the strength of Williams' 77-yard punt return touchdown with 3:17 left in the second quarter.

The teams combined for 433 yards of offense in the first half. Rosemount had 229, Roseville 204. Both teams finished the game with 394 total yards.

Perra, the reigning Metro Player of the Year, passed for 174 yards and two touchdowns before halftime and added a third touchdown pass in the second half. He finished with 296 yards passing and 80 rushing.