Bishops blast Rockets, earn playoff spot

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The Rosecrans Bishops earned their first playoff berth since 2012 after throttling Conotton Valley, 70-6, at John D. Sulsberger Stadium.

Bishop running back Travis Johnston found the end zone five times– three times on the ground, once on a kickoff return and once on a fumble recovery– and rushed for 130 yards on 15 carries. Quarterback Jack Nash threw two touchdown passes to Aaron Gehlken and one to tight end Hudson Moore. Carter Dosch ran for a 24-yard touchdown and Tucker Zemba capped off the Rosecrans scoring barrage by returning an interception for a touchdown late in the third quarter.

The Bishops led Conotton Valley at the half, 56-6, marking the second consecutive week they scored as many points in the first 24 minutes of action.

Rosecrans got help from two other teams in Division 7, Region 27 to make its playoff berth possible. Harvest Prep defeated Fairfield Christian, 69-10, and Sciotoville East survived Portsmouth Notre Dame, 32-26, to allow the Bishops to grab the eighth and final spot in the region.

Rosecrans will travel south to battle the top-seeded Waterford Wildcats next Saturday in the regional quarterfinals.