ROCORI Head Coach Mike Rowe Discusses Upset Win [AUDIO]

The ROCORI Spartan football team suffered through some growing pains in 2013, finishing the regular season with a 2-6 record. However, that did not stop the Spartans from upsetting Little Falls in the opening round of the section playoffs Tuesday night.

It was a rough and tumble, old school football game played under frigid conditions with a light snow falling throughout the contest. ROCORI head coach Mike Rowe says the Flyers played a very physical style:

Safety Dathan Miller was taken off the field on a stretcher after he was viciously blocked on an extra point attempt by Little Falls. The ball was snapped over the holder's head and directly to the Little Falls kicker, who attempted to scramble for the two point conversion. Miller was trying to track the Flyers kicker down when he was hit up high.

Miller gave a thumbs up as he was carted off the field and was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure. Coach Rowe says the team used the moment as a rallying point for the second half:

Quarterback Skippy Virchow had a strong game for ROCORI with a touchdown run on the game's opening drive and a long touchdown pass to fellow junior Alex Budde. Virchow shared time at quarterback with Tim Hansen this season, but Hansen has been slowed by sore shins over the past couple of weeks.

Last season, the Spartans lost quarterback Mac Mueller to injury and did not have a backup on the bench with a lot of experience. Coach Rowe says he is glad that is not the case this season: