Late flag finally falls Rockets’ way as Castle Rock holds on for wild 42-40 win over Seton Catholic

Soaked by a deluge of untimely penalties Friday, the Castle Rock Rockets finally had one flag go their way.

After Lance Stuck caught an apparent game-tying two-point conversion pass with 1:24 left, Seton Catholic was flagged for illegal motion, negating the play and forcing a retry from the 8.

On the second attempt, the Rockets defense made the stop and Castle Rock held on for a wild 42-40 Trico League victory at Seton Catholic.

After Castle Rock had two touchdown plays called back by penalties on consecutive plays in the third quarter, Seton Catholic’s defense made a fourth-down stop.

The Cougars then drove 61 yards — aided by three Castle Rock penalties — to take a 34-28 lead on Sean Emberlin’s 21-yard touchdown catch from Joe Callerame with 10:32 left to play.

Castle Rock responeded with a touchdown of its own three minutes later as Chance Naugle completed a 41-yard touchdown pass to Hayden Curtiss with 7:22 left.

The Rockets forced a three-and-out from Seton and got the ball back at midfield with 6:15 to play.

Naugle hit Landon Gardner on a 26-yard pass to the Seton 4 on fourth-and-5. Naugle then ran it in for a touchdowns. A conversion pass to Gardner made with 42-34 with 3:14 to play.

But Seton Catholic did not go away. Joe Callerame hit Ryan Stuck for a 55-yard gain to the Castle Rock 25 on the first play of the Cougars’ next possession.

Aided by another Castle Rock penalty, Seton had the ball on the 13 when an 11-yard pass to Lance Stuck got the Cougars to the 2-yard line. Two plays later, Jack Callerame scored from 1-yard out to make it 42-40 with 1:24 to go.

With Jack Callerame out of the game with an injury, Emberlin found Lance Stuck in the end zone for an apparent successful two-point try, but the Cougars were flagged for illegal motion.

On the Cougars’ second attempt from the 8 yard line, Castle Rock stopped Dax Clifton short of the goal line to preserve the Rockets’ lead.

When Nathan Beaver gathered the onside kick, the Rockets ran out the clock.

Naugle had a huge game for Castle Rock. The senior rushed for 175 yards and three touchdowns and passed for another 144 yards and three touchdowns. Hayden Curtiss caught eight passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

Jack Callerame had three touchdown runs for Seton Catholic. He also had a strip fumble recovery on defense, which he returned 58 yards for a touchdown.

Castle Rock was flagged for 13 penalties for 129 yards. Seton Catholic was hit with seven penalties for 70 yards.

CASTLE ROCK 42, SETON CATHOLIC 40

C. Rock 7 15 6 14—42

Seton 7 15 6 12—40

First quarter

CR — Owen Langdon 3 pass from Chance Naugle (Parker Orth kick)

SC — Joe Callerame 15 run (pass failed)

Second quarter

CR — Naugle 15 run (Orth kick)

SC — Jack Callerame 5 run (Jacob Williams run)

SC — Jack Callerame 58 fumble return (Sean Emberlin pass from Joe Callerame)

CR — Naugle 23 run (Landon Gardner pass from Naugle)

Third quarter

CR — Hayden Curtiss 24 pass from Naugle (kick failed)

SC — Joe Callerame 15 run (pass failed)

Fourth quarter

SC — Emberlin 21 pass from Joe Callerame (run failed)

CR — Curtiss 41 pass from Naugle (kick failed)

CR — Naugle 4 run (Gardner pass from Naugle)

SC — Jack Callerame 1 run (pass failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Castle Rock: Naugle 21-175, Chase Rusher 16-67, Korey McFadden 2-2, team 3-(-10). Seton Catholic: Joe Callerame 10-46, Jack Callerame 15-34, Emberlin 1-8, Jacob Williams 2-(-2), team 1-(-13).

PASSING — Castle Rock: Naugle 13-27-0-144. Seton Catholic: Joe Callerame 10-24-0-154.

RECEIVING — Castle Rock: Curtiss 8-110, Gardner 1-26, Rusher 3-5, Langdon 1-3. Seton Catholic: Lance Stuck 4-50, Ryan Stuck 1-55, Dax Clifton 3-29, Emberline 2-20.