Rocklin High’s football squad, seeded No. 2 in the Sac-Joaquin Section, Division II playoffs, had no trouble with No. 15 Elk Grove on Friday night.

The Thunder hammered the visitors 35-7 in this first round match-up, rolling 21-0 in the second half.

Rocklin senior running back Jackson Cummings rushed for four touchdowns and gained 239 yards on 40 carries.

“We knew we would have to run the ball – our O-line was really strong. Give them the game ball,” Cummings said. “(Playoff football) is amazing. I have experienced the playoffs in basketball but this is the first time in football.”

Cummings also caught two passes for 19 yards and had a 42-yard touchdown catch called back in the third quarter. He took plenty of hard hits but said he felt just fine.

“I’m doing all right – I’ll be fine tonight,” Cummings said. “I might be a little sore tomorrow but that’s football.”

Rocklin’s offensive line got a powerful push all night. Line coach Matt Eckman was especially impressed by the play of junior Joey Ramos and senior Justin Blattel in the trenches.

Elk Grove moved the ball well on the opening possession but turned the ball over on downs at Rocklin’s 18-yard-line. Rocklin responded by going 82 yards in 13 plays, Cummings running up the middle from six yards out for the touchdown.

Thunder junior quarterback Jimmy Laughrea completed 7-of-9 passes for 64 yards on the drive.

Rocklin junior BJ Roberts blocked an Elk Grove field-goal attempt on its next possession and Rocklin drove 75 yards for another touchdown (one-yard run by Cummings). This put the Thunder up 14-0 with 6:05 left in the half. Eleven of the 12 plays on the drive were runs by Cummings.

The Thundering Herd fumbled the ball away on its next possession and Rocklin junior Nick Cooper recovered the fumble at the Thunder 20 with 3:33 left in the half.

Rocklin gave the ball back as Elk Grove’s Tylar Clarke came down with an interception at midfield with 2:11 left in the half. This was Rocklin’s lone turnover of the game and it led to an Elk Grove touchdown with 25 seconds left in the half (17-yard pass from Alex Angell to Gabriel Vazquez).

Rocklin took a 14-7 lead into the half. The Thunder controlled the first half but led by just seven points.

“We challenged (the Rocklin players) in the locker room at halftime,” Rocklin coach Greg Benzel said. “Our guys responded in the second half.”

Rocklin opened the third quarter with the ball and marched 68 yards in 16 plays. The Thunder converted three fourth downs on the drive, the last of which a 30-yard touchdown pass from Laughrea to senior Holden Huff on fourth and five. The drive lasted about eight minutes.

Maybe the biggest play of the game came on the ensuing possession. Rocklin senior linebacker Sean Moore forced Elk Grove’s Daniel Rondez to fumble and teammate Daniel Lessard jumped on the ball at the Elk Grove 42.

Moore flew into the backfield and crushed Rondez moments after he received the handoff from Angell.

“I saw their guard back on his heels and with a light hand . . . and I know I have to shoot (into the backfield on) that,” Moore said.

Laughrea threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Cummings on the first play of the next possession but most of the yardage was called back due to a hold. Rocklin scored four plays later on a three-yard run by Cummings. Laughrea hit Huff for a 24-yard gain to set up the score. This touchdown put Rocklin up 28-7 with 45 seconds left in the third quarter.

Cummings’ added a one-yard touchdown run with 2:17 left in the game to set the final score.

Laughrea finished 17-26 for 204 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Huff (five catches, 96 yards, one touchdown), Kyle Garvella (five catches, 45 yards) and Tiger Sorenson (four catches, 36 yards) were Rocklin’s leading receivers in the win. Rocklin senior Vincent Barrow was 5-for-5 on extra points.

Vazquez was the primary playmaker for Elk Grove, effective on kick returns and grabbing four balls for 61 yards and a touchdown.