MUSKEGON TWP. - Reeths-Puffer football fans saw a much different and improved version of the Rockets last Thursday.
A big part of that was a different and improved Connor McManus.
McManus, a senior in his third year of varsity football, is a talented athlete who took some time figuring out which side of the ball he preferred to play on, and how he wanted to make his biggest contributions to the team.
That issue seemed to be settled last Thursday, when he had a career-best game and helped the Rockets post a big 56-7 victory over Greenville in the season opener.
R-P's Connor McManus
McManus started his big night off by catching a 55-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Braylon Swain in the second quarter.
He followed up by making with two interceptions from his defensive secondary position.
The first interception came late in the second quarter, as Greenville was driving for a score, when he snagged a pass at the R-P 13 with 22 seconds left. The second pick came early in the third quarter, deep in the Greenville zone, leading to a Rocket touchdown two plays later.
McManus finished with a team-high six catches for 147 yards and a team-high three tackles.
He said he had a lot of confidence going into the game - but also had some lingering doubts that led to a case of opening-day nerves.
McManus shoots past a defender last Thursday. Photo/Joe Lane
“It was a lot of fun,” McManus said during a break in practice on Sunday as the Rockets prepared for host Grand Haven on Thursday. “I told our trainer that I was willing to bet that we would end up pulling our starters before the end of the game.
“But I was also worrying about if we would end up getting a lot of flags and stuff like that. I was throwing up in the morning. I didn’t want us thinking we were better than we were. I didn’t want us to be overconfident.”
In the end, the Rockets were just confident enough. They proved they could shake off last year’s 2-7 record and start moving in the right direction, and McManus proved he could play great and have fun on offense and defense.
Until recently, he wasn’t too sure about that.
McManus goes low to make a catch in front of Coach Cody Kater. Photo/Joe Lane
He came to varsity as a sophomore wide receiver in 2024, fired up to make an immediate impact. But the Rockets had some older guys catching the ball, like Lukas Johnson and Marvin Moore, so he didn’t have a lot of throws coming his way.
He became a two-way player last year. after the coaches approached him about playing defense, as well.
Despite some doubts at first, he took an instant liking to defense, particularly the physical part, and stared having some big games.
“They talked to me about playing safety, as well," McManus said. “At first I was like, ehhh, but then I did it and really liked it. I get to hit people. That’s the best feeling you get, really. There’s nothing they can really do about it. You can hit them as hard as you want.”
At the same time, he wasn't quite as interested in being a receiver anymore. The Rockets again had two other guys catching a lot of passes – Mason Darke and Jamichael Williams - and he still wasn’t as involved as he wanted to be.
McManus hauls down a ball carrier last season.
McManus still had a decent number of receptions last year, but started enjoying his defensive role more. Then he injured a finger midway through the season, making it much harder to catch the ball, and he largely faded from the offensive scheme as the season went on.
“When I started out (as a sophomore), I thought I was going to be a receiver, and that’s what I thought I wanted to do in college,” he said. “But then I didn’t get the ball thrown to me a lot, and I started to wonder if that’s what I really wanted to do. You can’t control when you get the ball.”
This season has brought a change in attitude for McManus, as Thursday’s game clearly illustrated. He was flying around on both sides of the ball, and was obviously having a great time.
“I still want to play defense, but I enjoy playing offense again, too,” he said. “I have become less selfish about it. Now seeing my friends getting the ball around me makes me just as happy as when I get it. I love getting the ball, but it’s not make or break, as long as we keep on winning.”
McManus stiff-arms an opponent last season.
R-P head coach Cody Kater liked what he saw from McManus on Thursday.
“This is only his second year playing football both ways,” the coach said. “He got a little banged up last year and lost a little confidence. I think he’s a late bloomer. I think he’s a dude who’s going to continue to grow and get better.
“He had an explosive touchdown catch, and he kind of anchored the defensive backfield. It’s just his attitude back there. He’s always looking to hit someone hard, and that sort of physicality can really ripple through a defense.
"I think he’s putting it all together. He has worked hard in the weight room, he’s getting a little attention from colleges, and I think he’s just solely focused on having a great senior year.”
