The Herrin Tigers’ historic 2014 football season came to a close Saturday.

The Tigers won a school-record 11 games, but could not pick up a 12^th that would put them in the first Illinois High School Association state championship game in Herrin High School history.

Four-time defending state champion Rochester High School advanced to its fifth straight championship game with a 28-9 win.

Despite only scoring three points, the Tigers dominated the first quarter, taking advantage of a 25-mph northbound wind to keep the ball in Rochester territory for all but two snaps.

Senior kicker Josh Haynes’s 24-yard field goal gave Herrin the first lead of the day with 5:42 left in the first quarter.

Rochester’s junior quarterback Danny Ziegler found senior receiver Jeremy Bivens for a 42-yard touchdown pass three minutes into the second quarter.

The Rockets led 6-3 at halftime and never looked back.

Herrin senior running back Chase Merrill left the game with a collarbone injury early in the second half.

Rochester senior running back Evan Sembell scored 2 touchdowns in the second half and ran for 183 yards in the game.

Herrin senior running back Chris Butler punched in a score of his own, but that was not enough for the Tigers. Rochester ran the clock down in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

Ziegler finished the game with 159 passing yards and 2 touchdowns. Bivens had both of those touchdowns and 127 yards receiving.

Senior fullback Brent Milner led Herrin with 121 rushing yards.

There were few a dry eyes in the Herrin huddle after the game.

“I have never been more proud of a team than I am of you guys,” Herrin coach Jason Karnes said to his team.

Thomas can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter @tdonleyde.