MUSKEGON TWP. - Over the last few weeks, word got around that the Reeths-Puffer football team was going to have several tall, fast and talented receivers this season.
The only question was whether the Rockets had a quarterback who could get them the ball, particularly on deep routes.
The answer to that question was answered in the fourth quarter on Thursday night, when junior Braylon Swain, in his first career start as a varsity QB, threw a pair of long touchdown strikes to Mason Darke and Ja’Michael Williams, making the Rockets’ season opener against Forest Hills Central exciting all the way to the end.
R-P quarterback Braylon Swain
The Rockets fell just short, losing 18-12 after trailing 18-0 through three quarters, but R-P head coach Cody Kater was pleased with the performance of his new quarterback.
“He did a great job of managing the game, and he made some key throws down the stretch,” the coach said. “His eyes were always kind of in the right spot in the passing game, and he did some really good things. He’s a high-character kid and we expect him to keep learning and growing, like the rest of the team.”
Earning the job
The average fan in the bleachers on Thursday might have assumed that Swain was the obvious choice all along to lead the R-P offense.
It wasn’t quite that simple, however. Swain had to earn the job the old-fashioned way, and there was some uncertainty about his role for quite some time.
Swain certainly had the background to step into the role, after serving for two years as the starting quarterback for the R-P junior varsity.
But when last season ended, he assumed that his days as a QB were over, or at least on hold for a season. That was because Darke, last year’s quarterback who showed moments of real promise, was coming back for his senior year.
The door opened a bit in November when it was decided that Darke’s speed, height and athleticism would allow him to be a great receiver, so a different quarterback would be needed.
But that still didn’t seal the deal.
Swain calls signals before the snap. Photo/Tyler Lirones
Swain spent the entire offseason competing for the job with sophomore Cole Piper, another very talented athlete who plays several positions very well
The competition lasted for about eight months.
“It went on all the way up to the week before our first game,” Swain said. “From when we started doing stuff in the mornings last January, it was just me and him. There was a lot of just being anxious and not knowing.”
That uncertainty was probably the best thing that could have happened to Swain, from a development point of view.
“It made me a lot better,” Swain said. “In my JV years I never had a guy to compete with. It was good to have somebody push me and make me better every day. It was made clear that I was not going to be given the spot, I would have to earn it.”
Swain said he was never given official notification that he won the job.
Swain prepares to throw as a defender closes in. Photo/Tyler Lirones
“We went into the game plan last week and I got the majority of reps,” he said. “We never really had a sit down. It just sort of happened, I guess. We just got into practice and I could sort of tell. I just kind of went with it. I was ready for whatever.”
Kater said Swain won the competition because of his experience and the abilities he demonstrated during workouts.
“Being able to move the ball down the field with some consistency,” the coach said. “Cole is younger and doesn’t have as much experience. Swain is a bit more mature in his understanding of the offense.”
Kater added that the Rockets will have some different looks on offense at times this season, Piper could get some playing time under center, and Swain could move around a bit.
“I do feel like Cole Piper can be an asset on both sides of the ball,” Kater said. “It was Week 1 and we were not creating that kind of package, so he played cornerback and kick returner and punt returner, but we could use him in different spots on offense, as well. The same is true for Braylon.”
Passing the test
Swain had a quiet first half against Forest Hills Central, attempting only two passes and completing only one. The Rockets were focused on getting the run game going, it wasn’t working, and the offense was not impressive at that point.
Swain admitted he was nervous before the game, getting his first taste of varsity in front of a big crowd that was watching him closely.
“The biggest thing was just being on the bigger stage,” he said. “I was nervous about failing or putting the team in a bad spot. I started really slow, but then got used to it and settled in. I realized it was not a lot different. The game is a little faster, but once I settled in it felt pretty natural.”
The Rockets went to the air in the second half, putting Swain on the spot, and he responded very well , completing 10 of 16 passes for 148 yards and the two touchdowns.
Swain had a few low moments, throwing a pair of interceptions, but did not let those miscues slow him down.
Swain lets a pass fly over defender's head. Photo/Tyler Lirones
“One was kind of out of my control, because the ball was tipped, and on the other one, I made an overthrow and there (the defender) was,” Swain said. “I just tried to move on quickly. I have thrown a lot of interceptions before, so it wasn’t really anything new. Bad throw, be mad at myself for a second, then just move on.”
Swain’s biggest moments came within the final 10 minutes, when he helped engineer the exciting comeback attempt with the two long touchdown throws.
The first was a 33-yarder to Darke, making the score 18-6.
“It was third down and a decent amount, and we decided to take a shot,” Swain said. “Mason said ‘Throw me the ball.’ Then he beat the safety deep and there he was, and I threw a pretty good ball. It was a big confidence booster for the rest of the game and got our offense started.”
The second TD throw came just minutes later, on an 18-yard strike to Williams, making the score 18-12.
Swain passes under pressure. Photo/Tyler Lirones
“We got the ball back after a three and out, and I think we scored on three plays,” Swain said. “It was pretty exciting.”
The Rockets went on offense one more time, and Swain completed another pass into FHC territory, but the ball was fumbled after the catch and the Rangers recovered and ran out the clock.
“There was nothing you could do about it,” Swain said. “Just a matter of moving on. I wish it had been incomplete. We would have had another chance.”
Swain is excited about his second start, on Friday at Caledonia.
“We have a lot to look forward to,” he said. “We trained so hard in the offseason, so coming up short like that hurt, but now we want to go get one. I think everything will look better on Friday.”