On paper, the Reeths-Puffer football team’s 2023 season is shaping up to be very similar to the 2022 season.
The Rockets have several very impressive wins, along with competitive but disappointing losses to rival powers Muskegon and Mona Shores - just like last year.
But there is still time and several opportunities for the Rockets to finish the regular season strong and take a big step forward from last year.
One intriguing factor is the potential for another matchup with Mona Shores, Muskegon or both.
R-P, Muskegon and Mona Shores are all Division 2 in football this season, which is a change from recent years, when the Big Reds were slightly lower in Division 3.
That means if the Rockets can get in the playoffs for a second straight year, the Sailors and/or Big Reds could be opponents at the district level of the state playoffs.
Photo/Joe Lane
There’s no guarantee of that, of course. There is no telling what teams will actually make the playoffs, or what districts teams would be assigned to.
But after proving for a second straight year that they can compete just fine with the Big Reds and Sailors, there’s no doubt that the Rockets would love another crack at either rival.
“If we can take care of business, there is the possibility of being in the same district with those guys,” said R-P Coach Cody Kater, whose team will return to action on Friday night in a conference game against Grand Rapids Union at Grand Rapids’ Houseman Field. “We just have to continue to look inward and do everything we can to improve on a day-to-day basis.”
Last Friday against Muskegon, R-P fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter and appeared vulnerable to a blowout, then pulled itself together and made a game of it.
In the end the Rockets lost 28-13, but Kater came away feeling impressed with his team’s overall performance.
“We’ve only been here a year and a half, but the team we coached on Friday was our best team since we’ve been here in terms of focus, determination and leadership,” the coach said. “Last Friday we saw a turn of events (early in the game) and things could have easily gotten out of hand, but our guys stuck together and got through it.
Photo/Joe Lane
“I thought it was one of the more focused games we have played, win or lose, and we’re going to do our best to build off of that.”
Kater was particularly impressed with the way the Rocket defense stood tall in several crucial situations against the Big Reds.
When the Rockets were down 14-0 at the start of the second quarter, and the Big Reds had the ball at midfield, R-P’s Ethan Winters stepped up and snagged a huge interception that might have kept the game from turning into a rout.
The defense also blocked a 26-yard field goal attempt midway through the third quarter and stuffed the Big Reds on fourth down at the R-P four-yard line in the fourth quarter.
Those plays were not enough to salvage a victory, but they showed that the Rocket defense is becoming a force.
Senior All-State linebacker Caiden Bolduc had a monster game with four solo tackles and 13 assists. Bryce Ross added eight solo tackles and seven assists.
Photo/Joe Lane
Also among the Rockets’ tackling leaders were Max Dibble, Sam Hillin, Elliot Schneider and Brooks Johnson.
“Our guys were able to buckle down and get some key stops in the red zone and hold them to zero points,” Kater said. “The defense is starting to play with a better understanding of the big picture.”
Kater noted that offensively the Rockets moved the ball well against Mona Shores, not as well against Muskegon – but said the big problems in the two rivalry games were turnovers.
That’s an issue that can be addressed, and fixing it could make a big difference in a lot of tough upcoming games.
“In big games right now we are minus-six for turnovers,” Kater said. “We are looking at that, asking ourselves how we can do a better job of keeping the ball, and creating more turnovers as well.”
Of course the schedule keeps moving and Muskegon and Mona Shores are in the rear-view mirror, at least for now.
The Rockets’ immediate priority is preparing to play Grand Rapids Union, a team that has been more than a little problematic for R-P in recent seasons.
Photo/Joe Lane
R-P lost a 43-42 heartbreaker to Union in 2021, then had to go to overtime to beat the Red Hawks 35-29 in a wild home game last season.
That game also came one week after a loss to Muskegon and put the Rockets back on their feet heading into the rest of the schedule.
The Red Hawks are 2-3 so far this year but definitely have an offense that can put up points, as they demonstrated by scoring 60 in Week 1 against Ottawa Hills and 47 last week in a win over Wyoming.
Union’s season was blemished a bit by the suspension of head coach Don Fellows due to alcohol-related driving charges, but Kater said the Red Hawks still have great coaches and players.
“They are no slouch,” Kater said. “Their head coach at the beginning of the season won’t be there, but their staff is outstanding and they have a ton of returning starters from last year. We will have our hands full.
“The last two games have gone down to the wire and our boys are preparing for that.”
