ZEELAND — Though the final score might not suggest a barnburner, the Reeths-Puffer football team hung with Zeeland West for most of the night on Friday.
Much of the game was played within a one-score margin, but the Rockets ultimately fell 30-12 to the Dux, who are ranked in the Top 10 in the state in Division 3.
“I thought our defensive staff had a great game plan, and I think (the R-P defense) executed well,” said Reeths-Puffer coach Cody Kater. “I liked the way those guys fought and contended.”
The Rockets had several potential momentum-swinging plays wiped out by penalties. A touchdown on a fourth-and-goal late in the second quarter, which could have tied the game, was called back. So was a muffed Zeeland West punt return that the Rockets recovered while trailing by eight points in the second half.
“We had too many penalties tonight and you can’t do that against a good team like this,” Kater said. “I think we learned a little bit about ourselves tonight on the mental side of things.
R-P's Caiden Bolduc returns a kick.
“We showed that we are able to be right there with good teams and that we’re deserving of that recognition. But we’re a young team, a young program, and we’ve got to learn to eliminate some of those mistakes.”
With the loss, Reeths-Puffer falls to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the O-K Green conference. The Rockets will get another test next week against undefeated Mona Shores.
Kater said he’s not worried about this week’s loss carrying over to next week.
“It’s a big rivalry game, we’re excited,” he said. “There’s no way we don’t get up and get ready for that one.”
Brody Johnson (24) battles for yards for the Rockets.
Zeeland West scored first when Parker Holman ran the opening kickoff back 90 yards for a score, putting the Dux up 6-0. After the Rockets went three-and-out on their first drive, Holman scored his second TD, a 6-yard run, to cap a 17-play drive.
Reeths-Puffer responded quickly with a 4-play, 52-yard touchdown drive.
Quarterback Brady Ross hit Tayte Vanderleest for a 31-yard gain on a flea flicker to start the drive. Brody Johnson found the end zone three plays later on a 4-yard run to pull R-P within 14-6 with 1:31 left in the first quarter.
The Rockets appeared to have another score late in the second when Ross scored from four yards out on fourth-and-goal. However, the Rockets were called for illegal procedure, then tried again from the 9 and failed to score.
Zeeland West fumbled three plays later and the Rockets recovered, giving them another chance at points before halftime. But Reeths-Puffer fumbled at the 5-yard line, giving the ball back to the Dux, who ran out the second quarter clock.
R-P's Tayte Vanderleest tries to work his way around a defender.
The Rockets punted from their own 32-yard-line on their first drive of the third quarter. Zeeland West muffed the catch and the Rockets recovered, but another costly penalty forced R-P to kick again. The Dux again muffed the punt but were able to recover.
Zeeland West then embarked on an 11-play drive and scored on a Brody Maas touchdown run with 1:37 left in the third quarter. A two-point conversion made the score 22-6.
Reeths-Puffer scored on its next drive, with Ross running in a 3-yard TD with 9:38 to play. The conversion failed, leaving R-P down 22-12. An onside kick attempt was recovered by Zeeland West.
The Dux scored with 4:02 to play on a 6-yard run by Skyler Geurink, making the score 30-12 after a successful two-point try.
Ross finished 16-for-21 passing for 160 yards and ran for 55 yards. Vanderleest was his top target, hauling in eight receptions for 124 yards. Brody Johnson finished the game with 77 rushing yards.