RCTC Competes in Graphic Edge Bowl

RCTC Competes in Graphic Edge Bowl
Posted: Mar 02, 2017
Despite losing in the MCAC state semifinals, the Rochester Community and Technical College football team has landed a bowl berth. 

The Yellowjackets (6-4) will return to Cedar Falls, Iowa, as they will face Ellsworth, Iowa, in the first game of the Graphics Edge Bowl on Dec. 4.

First-year RCTC coach Eric Waldstein was not surprised by the bowl berth, which was announced Tuesday.

"No, not really," he said. "We've been in conversation with them and the College of DuPage."

The College of DuPage is hosting a new bowl, the Red Grange Bowl in Glen Ellyn, Ill. Sixth-ranked Central Lakes (11-0), the MCAC champions, will face DuPage (5-5) in that bowl game on Dec. 3.

This will mark the fourth time in six years that RCTC has played in the Graphics Edge Bowl. RCTC likely received an invitation because MCAC runner-up North Dakota State College of Science (9-2) does not accept bowl invitations unless it wins the conference/state championship.

"The guys worked really hard this year and they deserve this," Waldstein said of his squad. RCTC has not been holding recent practices, but has been working out in anticipation of receiving a bowl berth.

"We've been doing some light workout stuff, just to keep the guys going," Waldstein said.

Ellsworth has just a 5-6 record going into the bowl game. But Ellsworth is a Division II scholarship team and RCTC is a Division III non-scholarship team. RCTC typically plays scholarship schools in bowl games and is just 5-19 all-time in bowl games.

"It's good for the program; it's good for the guys," Waldstein said. "Ellsworth has a few high-level guys and there will be some four-year (college) scouts at the game."

RCTC last played on Oct. 29 in the state semifinals. The Yellowjackets were without several high-quality players in the game due to injury. With the length between the games, RCTC will be much more healthy in the bowl contest.

Quarterback Jamal Stovall, running back and Mayo grad Greg Henry and linebacker Brandon Perce are all expected to play against Ellsworth.

"We should almost be back to full strength," Waldstein said.

The featured game of the Graphics Edge Bowl will be No. 9 Holmes (6-3) vs. Iowa Western (6-5) at 3 p.m. following the RCTC-Ellsworth game at the dome on the University of Northern Iowa campus.

Last year RCTC played in the NCJAA national championship game and lost to Northwest Mississippi 66-13 in Biloxi, Miss. This year's NJCAA national title game will be the El Toro Bowl in Yuma, Ariz., on Dec. 3 and will feature No. 1-ranked Garden City (10-0) vs. No. 2 Arizona Western (11-0).