NORTON SHORES – The Reeths-Puffer football team has a lot of improving to do with tough games coming up, and the conversations about that have started following a 48-7 rivalry loss at Mona Shores on Friday night.
“We had a great conversation,” said R-P head coach Cody Kater about the locker room discussion after the loss. “It was probably one of the better conversations that I’ve had as a head football coach. But again, we have to be about action. We’ve got to put our foot down and find the level of execution.”
The Rockets will start working on that during practice in the coming week, before heading to Grand Rapids Union for another conference road game next Friday.
R-P's Mason Darke finds open space to run. Photo/Tyler Lirones
Kater believes his team is still bought in, despite its 1-3 overall record and 0-1 O-K Green conference mark.
“The kids took a lot of ownership tonight,” Kater said about the players taking responsibility for their performance. “But you know, us coaches have to look inward, too. We have to continue to find ways to be better and put them in situations where they can find success.”
Friday’s game went downhill for the Rockets quickly. Mona Shores took the opening possession and went ahead 6-0 behind a six-yard touchdown run by quarterback Joe Thole.
The Rockets took the ensuing possession down to the Sailor 16-yard line before the drive stalled out.
R-P's Connor McManus (7) and Brendan Guikema (11) team tackle. Photo/Tyler Lirones
With 7:36 remaining in the second quarter, Mona Shores’ Tomarion Steward broke loose for a 53-yard touchdown run, and the conversion extended the Sailor lead to 14-0.
On the first play of the next Rocket drive, Mona Shores’ Owen Terpstra intercepted a pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown, and the Sailors increased their lead to 22-0.
Steward scored on a 10-yard touchdown run with 7:04 left in the third quarter and Mona Shores led 29-0.
R-P's Cal Millis (22) plows ahead for yards. Photo/Tyler Lirones
The Rockets got on the scoreboard with 4:49 left in the third quarter when quarterback Braylon Swain connected with Mason Darkle on a 54-yard touchdown pass. The PAT kick make the score 29-7.
Bryce Muskovin returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown for Mona Shores, then with 3:16 left in the third, Steward punched in a nine-yard TD run. Mona Shores led 42-7 at that point, which started the running clock.
The final touchdown of the night came with 11:06 left in the fourth quarter when Kevin White broke loose for a 26-yard scoring run.
Swain completed 8-of-14 passes for R-P for 100 yards and one touchdown. Darke had four catches for 74 yards. Connor McManus had three catches for 20 yards.
R-P quarterback Braylon Swain hands off to Millis. Photo/Tyler Lirones
Cal Millis led the defense with seven tackles.
The Rockets turned the ball over four times, something Kater admitted is hard for any team to overcome.
“Four turnovers are really difficult,” he said. “Plus, they capitalized on them. We had a hard time on offense, and then on defense we felt like we were having to play catch-up. It just felt like we never really caught a rhythm due to playing catch-up.”