MUSKEGON TWP. – The Reeths-Puffer football team is probably on track to win more games than it did the past two years, but against the big local rivals on the Rockets’ schedule, it’s been more of the same.
After falling to Muskegon by a large margin last week, the Rockets hosted Mona Shores on Friday and lost 42-13 in another O-K Green conference matchup.
A combination of bad snaps and bad defense ultimately derailed any hopes that the Rockets had on Friday night.
“It’s the same story,” said R-P head coach Cody Kater. “It’s just a different game, but the same story. We make too many mental mistakes when we have pressure.”
R-P's Ty Ross runs the ball. Photo/Nick Fuller
The game started out with some hope for the Rockets, with both teams punting on their first possessions.
But following a second Reeths-Puffer punt, Mona Shores drove the ball 75 yards over seven plays, before an eight-yard touchdown run by Kevin White gave the Sailors a 7-0 lead.
On the following R-P possession, the Rockets drove to the Sailor 17-yard line before a bad snap caused a 17-yard loss and a punt.
Mona Shores quarterback Owen Terpstra then broke loose for an 80-yard touchdown run to make the score 14-0 with 8:28 left in the second quarter.
R-P's Connor McManus goes low to make a stop. Photo/Nick Fuller
After yet another Rocket punt, Mona Shores again scored on the first play of its possession, a 52-yard double pass from Terpstra to Payton Kozia, who found a wide-open Michael Himes for the score. That made the score 20-0 with 7:16 left in the quarter.
The next Sailor possession was once again one play, with Terpstra finding Himes for a 36-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead to 28-0 with 3:54 left in the first half.
On the final R-P possession of the half, the Rockets marched 61 yards on nine plays before capping the drive with a three-yard touchdown pass from Braylon Swain to Hunter Adams.
The halftime score was 28-6.
Ross gets ready to sack the Shores quarterback. Photo/Nick Fuller
A White three-yard touchdown run on the first possession of the second half gave Mona Shores a 35-6 lead.
The Rockets punted on their next possession, and Mona Shores’ Bryce Muskovin returned it 35 yards for a touchdown.
The final score of the night came on the final Rocket possession, when Swain connected with Ke’Ondre Sanders on an eight-yard touchdown pass.
Sanders led the Rockets with 83 yards rushing on 13 carries while Swain was 21-of-36 passing for 147 yards and two touchdowns.
R-P's Bobby Gamble looks for running room. Photo/Nick Fuller
Jamichael Williams led the Rocket receivers with 35 yards on five catches while Bobby Gamble had 25 yards on two receptions.
The Rockets will host Grand Rapids Union next Friday for the Homecoming game, with hopes of keeping their playoff hopes alive.
“We have to find a way to rally,” said Kater, whose team is currently 2-3 overall and 0-2 in conference play. “We must find a way to finish this thing, because the season really starts now for us.
“If we want to extend our season and play additional games, we must find a way to do things differently than what we’ve been doing.”
