GRAND HAVEN – The Reeths-Puffer football team went to bed Thursday night having already started the opening game versus Grand Haven but still had work left to do.
That’s because with 10:27 left in the second quarter, and Reeths-Puffer leading 14-7, the game was postponed due to weather.
But the Rockets wasted no time on Friday, finishing off a season opening 41-13 road victory at Grand Haven.
“We’re still searching for an identity,” said Rocket head coach Cody Kater about what he learned about his team after battling the adversity of the delay. “We know we have the ability for explosive plays on offense and we have a lot of athletes on defense. Those things we kind of knew. We’ve put a lot of work into this, and we’re excited.”
Senior quarterback Antrel Jones is tackled by multiple opponents. Photo/Joe Lane
Perhaps the biggest development on the day was on the defensive side of the ball where Reeths-Puffer forced two turnovers and allowed just 53 yards in the second half.
“It’s a brotherhood,” said Kater about the defensive performance after allowing 13 first half points. “They’ve understood it takes hard work and it was proven by it paying off today. They kind of got going as time went on and we put forth our best plays. The boys executed and we’re really excited to see that.”
Senior Jezsiah Sims and junior Ethan Muskovin each had interceptions in the game for Reeths-Puffer.
“We had two takeaways in the back end,” said Kater about the back end of his new look defense. “Those are new playmakers for us. We look new on the back end because we had to move some guys around. We knew we had to go into it with trying to find an identity back there and we may have found it.”
Junior Shaun Haley II and senior Nathaniel Stafford combine for the stop. Photo/Joe Lane
The Rockets first trailed in the game when Grand Haven scored on a long touchdown run with 8:21 remaining in the first quarter.
But, Reeths-Puffer responded with a 80 yard, 11-play drive that was capped off by a 13-yard touchdown pass from senior Antrel Jones to senior Travis Ambrose, trying the game at 7-7.
The last offensive play before the storm delay was a seven-yard touchdown pass from Jones to senior Bryce Ross, giving the Rockets a 14-7 lead with 10:27 left in the second quarter.
On Friday, Jones and Ambrose connected on a 10-yard touchdown pass to extend the Rocket lead to 20-7 with 1:07 left in the second quarter.
Brody Johnson looks for an open hole as he runs with the ball. Photo/Joe Lane
Grand Haven ultimately scored before halftime to cut the Rocket lead to 20-13.
On the second offensive possession of the second half, Jones found senior Kameron Coleman for a 66-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 27-13 with 5:27 left in the third quarter.
Senior Brody Johnson joined the scoring with a touchdown run of 51-yards in the third quarter and a touchdown run of 51-yards just seconds into the fourth quarter, giving Reeths-Puffer a 41-13 lead.
The two teams traded possessions the rest of the game as Reeths-Puffer cruised to the season opening victory.
Brody Johnson prepares to cut past the Grand Haven defense. Photo/Joe Lane
Jones finished the game with 286 yards and four touchdowns on 13-of-18 passing while also totaling 40 yards on 14 carries.
“It was real fun,” said the senior about his performance. “Especially not playing really at all lasty year. It was fun to be around the guys and be a part of this program. It’s really easy to come out and work around these guys.”
Johnson totaled 180 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 19 carries while senior Jaxson Whitaker led all receivers with 102 yards on two catches.
Ambrose totaled 63 yards and two touchdowns on six catches while Coleman had 96 yards and a touchdown on two catches.
The Rockets will next travel to Farmington next Thursday to close out the non-conference portion of their schedule.
