MUSKEGON TWP. — In close, hard-fought football games, a handful of key plays can make all the difference.
In Thursday night's tight contest between Reeths-Puffer and Grand Haven, it was the Buccaneers who made those key plays; handing the Rockets a very tough 17-14 loss at Rocket Stadium.
Twice in the second half, Reeths-Puffer drove deep into Grand Haven territory, only to see the drives end in turnovers instead of points. Another drive stalled after a poor snap.
R-P's Garrison Niklasch (8) and Hunter Adams (6) make a stop. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Still, the Rockets gave themselves a chance with a late touchdown, but Grand Haven recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.
“We fought until the very end,” said R-P head coach Cody Kater. “I think they beat us in the game of mental errors, physical errors. We had more of those, and in key moments. That’s something we continue to try to stress.”
The Rockets had good moments on both sides of the ball, with several sustained offensive drives and defensive stops in short-yardage situations. In the end, however, the mistakes proved too much to overcome.
Learning from those moments will be a focus for R-P going forward.
R-P quarterback Braylon Swain looks to pass under pressure. Photo/Jeremy Clark
“It just felt like, in their pressure situations (the Bucs) were falling forward, and in our pressure situations we were reeling a little bit, and letting the emotions of the game kind of get to us,” Kater said. “We just need to get better at understanding moments and pressure and living through it.”
Grand Haven scored first on a 35-yard pass from Easton Hintz to Amani Frierson with 3:05 to play in the first quarter.
Reeths-Puffer answered on its next drive, scoring on a 6-yard run by Ke’Ondre Sanders with 11:05 left in the second. Evan McHugh’s extra point tied the game 7-7, which was the score at halftime.
R-P's Connor McManus hauls down a ball carrier. Photo/Jeremy Clark
The Rockets got the ball to start the second half and marched inside the Grand Haven 30-yard-line, but lost a fumble on the ninth play of the drive. Grand Haven took possession and, 15 plays later, took a 10-7 lead with a 22-yard field goal.
After a Rockets three-and-out, Grand Haven added to its lead on a one-yard TD run by Hintz, giving the Bucs a 17-7 advantage with 4:48 to play.
Reeths-Puffer embarked on another good drive, but a Braylon Swain pass was intercepted near the Grand Haven goal line with 3:46 to play. R-P’s defense forced a quick three-and-out to get the ball back, and Swain punched in a 1-yard rushing TD to make it 17-14 with 1:28 to play.
R-P went for an onside kick, but Grand Haven was able to come up with the ball and run out the clock. 
R-P's Hunter Adams tries to shake off a defender. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Swain finished 9-of-15 passing for 142 yards and an interception. He ran nine times for 49 yards and a TD. Sanders rushed 13 times for 57 yards and a score.
Defensively, HunterAdams, Lyric Stewart, Garrison Niklasch and Paul Smith were among the team’s leading tacklers.
Reeths-Puffer fell to 1-1 on the season, while Grand Haven improved to 2-0. The Rockets will play on the road next Friday at Grand Rapids Northview.
