The Rams keep rolling, one way or another

Rockford's Nick Smythe looks for room against the Buccaneer defense

A trend is revealing itself week by week in the Division-1 playoffs, and it’s disturbing for any team with championship aspirations not named “Rockford.”  The trend involves the Rams, and specifically their uncanny ability to win.  It’s not always pretty — in fact it’s been fairly ugly in recent weeks — but whether it’s via a game-winning drive, a 14-point fourth quarter comeback, or a quadruple-play goal-line stand, the Rams find a way to get it done.  They did it again Friday night, this time leveraging a slick coaching decision in the fourth quarter to come away with a 14-7 victory over the visiting Grand Haven Buccaneers.

Taking a 7-0 lead into the half, Grand Haven’s world-beating defense had not only kept Rockford out of the endzone, they’d kept the Rams out of the red-zone entirely.  This despite Rockford starting three drives in Grand Haven territory.  Rockford managed to put together a touchdown drive late in the third quarter to tie the game 7-7, but even then any success the Rams had offensively was sporadic at best.  So on third-and-11 with 7:47 left to play in the game, looking at 71-yards of turf and arguably the best defense in the state between his Rams and the endzone, Rockford coach Ralph Munger did what any rational coach of a 3-time Division-1 state championship team would do: In a situation demanding perfect execution, he switched to his hurry-up offensive package, and the decision won them the game.

“We had to find something to get us going,” said Munger.  “We knew we had to run the ball, and we hunkered down and away we went.”

Without the luxury of a huddle, Grand Haven’s previously impenetrable defense looked lost, quickly giving up four successive first downs followed by a quick five yard touchdown by tailback Ryan Darby.  The abrupt 14-7 lead proved insurmountable in a game in which points were at a premium, as Rockford defensive back Taylor Huizenga intercepted a pass to kill Grand Haven’s final drive and the Rams were crowned District Champions again.

Maybe it wasn’t the way they planned.  Or maybe it was.  Either way, Rockford is still playing football.

There’s no “I” in rebuilding

Grand Haven's Adam Poel looks for a receiver

Consider the undefeated 9-0 regular season.  Consider the two come from behind playoff victories, showing the type of grit and stubborn determination that only comes with having been there before.  Consider the No. 1 ranking in Division-1 throughout much of the season.  And then consider that this was supposed to be the year Rockford didn’t have enough talent to compete for a championship.  The Rams are the archetypal football team, whose mystique is founded precisely in their ability to be successful with supposedly over-matched talent.

The Buc starts here

After bowing out in the second round of their first playoff appearance in over a decade, the Buccaneers were overcome with emotion to a man.  It’s a tough way to go, certainly.  But the loss doesn’t negate the groundbreaking season that preceded it.  Grand Haven set a lofty precedent in 2009, and got a 10-year old monkey off their back in the process.  With nine defensive starters returning next year, the Buccaneers are firmly on the uptrend.

“I’m really proud of our kids, proud of our effort on both sides.  We just fell short tonight,” said Grand Haven coach Mike Farley.  “These kids decided last spring to dedicate themselves to becoming a great football program, which we haven’t been in a while at Grand Haven.  They focused and worked hard all season, and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

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