by Joseph W. Gex II, Staff Writer
BAY ST. LOUIS (GG) –The Saint Stanislaus Rock-A-Chaws opened the 2025 season on Friday night ‘between the walls’ against the Forrest County Aggies. The Rocks (0-1) were not able to find the win column as the Aggies exposed the youthful inexperience of the Rocks with a 39-3 decision.
The game opened on offense for the Aggies who were held in check by the Rocks on the opening drive forcing a punt.
On the third play from scrimmage, SSC was intercepted near midfield. The Aggies promptly returned the ball on a fumble that was recovered by Aidan Makamson at the Rock 27-yard line.
The Aggies forced a punt and recorded a safety when the ball was snapped over the head of the punter and out of the endzone. The miscue gave the Aggies a 2-0 lead with 5:48 left in the first quarter.
Following the ensuing kickoff, the Aggies took over on their own 31-yard line. FCAHS mounted a 13-play drive that resulted in a 36-yard field goal that gave the Aggies a 5-0 lead with 1:07 left in the first quarter.
A three-and-out by the Rocks gave the Aggies the ball at the Rocks’ 21-yard line following a 42-yard return by Terrence Horne. Parks Brock called his own number and ripped off a 21-yard run for the touchdown with 11:37 left in the first half.
The PAT was good pushing the score to 12-0.
After a defensive hold, the Aggies took over at the Rock 22-yard line and put together a seven-play drive that resulted in a Lee Roberts one-yard plunge for the score with 5:37 left in the first half. The PAT was blocked by Max Rhodes leaving the score 18-0.
Tripp Lewe returned the ensuing kickoff 84 yards down the Aggies 10-yard line. After three plays of minimal gains, freshman kicker Jude Babin converted a 22-yard field goal for SSC to make the score 18-3 with 2:55 left in the half.
The Aggies’ Cleveland Thompson returned the kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown with 2:38 left in the half. The PAT was good making the score 25-3.
Following the kickoff, the Rocks put together a 10-play drive that brought the ball down to the Aggies’ 10-yard line. Babin trotted on the field with less than 10 seconds left to attempt a 26-yard field goal that sailed wide left leaving the score 25-3 at intermission.
The second half started off not so well for the Rocks as SSC was intercepted on their first drive deep in Aggie territory and returned to near midfield. The interception set up a two-yard scoring run by Thomson with 7:30 left in the third quarter. The PAT was good making the score 32-3.
Each squad traded possession twice before Forrest County found the endzone on a 22-yard scoring toss from Brock to Horne with 10:07 left in the game. The PAT was good making the final score 39-3.
SSC head coach Tate Thigpen commented, “We played like a very young football team tonight in every possible way. We have a lot of work to do to correct things and get ready for our opponent next week.”
Sal Riccardi and Lex Rhodes each tallied five tackles in the game with Rhodes also forcing a fumble and deflecting two passes while Riccardi recorded a sack and a hurry.
The Rocks will take a short trip across town to tangle with the Bay High Tigers who lost to PRC on the road 49-0 last week in the annual Battle for the Crab Trap. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. This will be the 57th time the two teams have met on the gridiron with SSC owning the series 36-20.
