GRAND RAPIDS - The Reeths-Puffer football team is still very focused and ready to fight.
The Rockets made that very clear with their response to some adversity.
After losing three of their first four games, including a pretty one-sided defeat at Mona Shores last Friday, the Rockets came into the week a little bit battered and bruised.
Then winless Grand Rapids Union jumped out to an early 6-0 lead over R-P on Friday night, just 3:25 into the game.
R-P's Connor McManus stiff-arms a defender. Photo/Tyler Lirones
The Rockets could have rolled over and let the gloom continue, but instead they pulled themselves together and posted an impressive 37-9 victory at Grand Rapids’ Houseman Field.
R-P improved to 2-3 overall on the season, matching its win mark from last year, and 1-1 in the O-K Green conference standings.
On one hand, R-P head coach Cody Kater noted that his team has taken too long to get moving in just about every game this season.
“We've got to find a way to come out faster and execute at the beginning of games,” he said.
R-P's Cal Millis tries to break out of a tackle. Photo/Tyler Lirones
But the coach was pleased with how the players responded after Union landed the first punch of the game.
“We’ve been struggling with having weak responses, but we talked about how we need to respond, and that was evident tonight,” he said.
R-P got rolling on its third offensive possession of the game, when senior Cal Millis capped off a six-play drive with a 13-yard rushing touchdown, tying the game at 6-6 with 1:12 left in the first quarter.
The Rocket defense forced a Union fumble just before the end of the first quarter, then R-P quarterback Braylon Swain found Connor McManus for a three-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter. The PAT kick made the score 13-6.
R-P's Cole Piper heads to the outside for running room. Photo/Tyler Lirones
The Rocket defense stood tall on the ensuing possession, forcing a three-and-out and a punt.
R-P sophomore Cole Piper returned the punt 42 yards for a touchdown, increasing the lead to 20-6 with 10:24 left in the first half, and that was the score at halftime.
Reeths-Puffer continued to pour it on in the third quarter, outscoring Union 17-0.
Piper scored on a 45-yard touchdown run, Millis added a six-yard scoring run and Evan McHugh converted a 23-yard field goal attempt.
Garrison Niklasch (6) and Hudson Roberts (90) combine on a tackle. Photo/Tyler Lirones
“We got stops on defense and then scored quick on offense,” Kater said. “The freight train started going in the second quarter, but slowed down a bit before half. But then we got it going downhill again in the third quarter.”
The lone fourth quarter score was a Grand Rapids Union field goal.
Piper led the Rockets with 140 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries while Millis totaled 108 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
Swain finished 14-of-21 passing for 126 yards. Mason Darke had six catches for 59 yards and McManus had four receptions for 30 yards.
Millis takes down a Union ball-carrier from behind. Photo/Tyler Lirones
Hunter Adams and Millis had eight and five tackles, respectively, for Reeths-Puffer.
“Just like coach said, as soon as we get momentum, the freight train doesn’t stop,” Piper said after his first breakout varsity game. “The guys really blocked well tonight, and we had good energy on offense. which helped all of us get going.”
The Rockets will host Forest Hills Northern next Friday. The Huskies are also 2-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play after losing 40-21 to Muskegon.
“We’ve got to continue to find ways to slow down the game for our sophomores like Cole Piper,” Kater said. “We know we’ve got exceptional athletes overall, but we just have to continue to find ways to slow down their minds so they can perform.”