By Randy Gregory,

Photo courtesy of Miles Postema

 

For the first time since 2019 (and only the second time since 2002) the Rockford football team went one and done in the Michigan High School Athletic Association football playoffs at Carlson Munger Stadium on Friday, November 1. Things began very auspiciously for the Rams as they stopped Grandville on a fourth down play and then proceeded to drive the length of the field to take an early 7-0 lead while moving the ball both on the ground and through the air with equal aplomb. But from that point forward until seven minutes had expired in the final quarter, Grandville ran off 24 straight points to claim a 24-14 victory and advance to the district final where they will square off with Hudsonville.

There is very little mystery about the game plan for the Bulldogs on an annual basis. They are going to line up in their “Power T” and try to methodically drive the field while attempting to limit your opportunities and dominating the time of possession. Consider the mission totally accomplished if you were a Bulldog player, coach or fan. The one chink in their armor has almost always been their inability to stop Rockford and consequently the Rams have dominated the series of recent vintage. But the true story of the game was the ability of the Grandville defense to frustrate Rockford for over 30 minutes of game time while running off that 24-point run. Grandville came into the contest allowing nearly 30 points per game and had given up 37 to the Rams earlier this season in a 37-20 Ram win.

“We talked before the game about you respect your opponent and you respect the day,” said Rockford Coach Brent Cummings. “Both teams wanted to win this game so badly and it is an emotional game and they had a great game plan. They played with a ton of spirit and they found a way to overcome us there in the third quarter. They had a heck of a third quarter and really took control of the game at that point. We really executed well on that first drive but that is something where you can learn that you take a shot at someone and have your way but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be the same deal the next time through. You have got to keep your focus through an entire game when the playoffs roll around.”

Grandville received the opening kick and marched to the Rockford 28 before the Ram defense forced a turnover on downs. The Rams then used up a huge chunk of the clock as well in marching 72 yards to take an early 7-0 lead on a six-yard run by Brayden Daniels with 1:23 let in the initial quarter. But that would prove to be the high-water mark for the Rams as Grandville got a 33-yard field goal early in the second and followed that up with an 8-yard TD run with just over a minute to play to take a 10-7 lead at the half.

Rockford was not without opportunities all game long. Poot had a lengthy touchdown kickoff return nullified by a block in the back and they missed a 21-yard field goal in the final quarter. But at every juncture when it seemed they were getting a drive together the Bulldog defense rose to the occasion and turned them away.

After forcing a quick Ram punt to begin the second half, Grandville took the ball and jammed it right into the Ram defense as they quickly made it a two-score game on a three-yard touchdown pass that made it a 17-7 game with 4:44 remaining in the third quarter. Rockford again went three and out and got off a great punt that rolled dead at the Grandville 11. Four plays later Jayden “Tank” Terry showed why he is an All State running back as he ripped off a 73-yard TD run with :56 seconds to play in the third and send the Bulldog faithful into a cacophony of delirium.

Rockford showed some moxie midway through the final quarter as Daniels hooked up with Mikey DeKuiper on a four-yard TD pass to make it 24-14 with just over five minutes remaining in the game. But Grandville took over possession and ran off the entirety of the clock to claim the 24-14 win.

“We had some season-ending injuries to several of our starters and still ended up with a 7-3 record so I am very proud of these kids,” said Cummings. “But congratulations to Grandville and good luck to them. They played a very good game. Our kids showed in practice every week a great willingness to learn and get better. It was a disappointing ending but that takes nothing away from all of their efforts this year.”

Daniels was 10-20 passing for 126 yards and a touchdown. Poot led the Ram ground attack with 83 yards on 14 carries and Daniels added 45 on 16 attempts. Poot led the receiving corps with 39 yards on three catches and Blake Linsley had a pair for 37. Jax Eichbauer also had two catches for 26 yards. Junior safety Luke Ahern and sophomore linebacker Wyatt Colston both had 14 tackles to lead the defense. Junior Reed Binney also had a nice game defensively with nine stops of his own.

The loss ended Rockford’s season at 7-3 while Grandville moved to 6-4 while advancing to the next round.