New Rockford-Sheyenne-Maddock is once again atop the North Dakota 9-man mountain, winning its second straight Dakota Bowl title with a 38-22 victory over LaMoure-Litchville-Marion on Friday, Nov. 14, at the Fargodome.

In a rematch of last year’s Dakota Bowl – a 62-26 victory for the Rockets – NR-S-M scored the game’s first 22 points – all in the second quarter. Thomas Allmaras caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Easton Smith and scored on a 1-yard run as the Rockets built a 14-0 lead. They stretched the advantage to 22 before the break with Smith’s second touchdown toss of the contest, this one to Easton Benz for 9 yards.

The Loboes responded in the third quarter to get themselves back in the ballgame. Mason Warcken got L-L-M on the board with a 3-yard touchdown run followed by a 13-yard touchdown pass from Warcken to Logan Potts to cut NR-S-M’s lead to 22-16.

In the end, the Rockets wouldn’t be denied, putting the game out of reach with a pair of unanswered touchdowns at the end of the third quarter and at the beginning of the fourth to grow their advantage to 36-16. Smith recorded his third and touchdown passes of the game, once again hooking up with Benz and Allmaras.

The Rockets completed a second straight undefeated season in the process.

Smith finished with 405 yards passing on 32 completions. Allmaras had 10 catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Grant Engebretson led the Rockets with 167 yards receiving on nine catches.