The Reeths-Puffer football team has had some close calls against some very tough opponents this year.
The Rockets gave the mighty Muskegon Big Reds all they could handle before falling 28-20. They shut down Mona Shores’ explosive offense and only lost 15-0.
They survived pressure-filled situations and escaped with tight victories against Grand Rapids Union and Zeeland East.
There’s no question that the Rockets have been battle-tested.
Brody Johnson scores a touchdown against Muskegon.
Now are they ready to break through and be giant-killers?
We’ll find out on Friday when R-P travels to play undefeated Forest Hills Central in the first round of the Division 2 state playoffs.
The winner will meet the survivor of the Mona Shores-Traverse City Central game in the district finals next week.
“We’re still looking for that signature win,” said first-year R-P head coach Cody Kater. “We’re excited about the opportunity. Forest Hills Central is a great program and a great team, and we have a huge challenge ahead of us, but we like where we’re at.
“We’ve been through some pressure situations throughout the season, and that piece is critical. I’m eager to see what we’ve learned from those games and moments and if we’ll be able to find some success.”
Receiver Tayte Vanderleest runs a route against the Big Reds.
Regardless of the outcome on Friday, there’s no doubt that the Rockets’ season has been an unqualified success.
Kater and his staff were hired to breathe life back into a team that won only three games last season and two the year before, and that’s been accomplished.
The Rockets finished the regular season with a 6-3 record after beating Lansing Everett 35-0 on the road last week and earned the team’s first playoff berth since 2013.
Several Rockets have had outstanding years statistically, including senior quarterback Brady Ross (928 yards passing, 7 touchdowns), junior running back Brody Johnson (989 yards rushing, 15 touchdowns), senior wideout Tayte Vanderleest (37 catches, 414 yards, four TDs) and junior linebacker Caiden Bolduc, who led the area with 118 tackles.
The playoffs are a huge reward for the R-P seniors who have worked so hard over the years and finally get the chance to experience postseason football.
Linebacker Caiden Bolduc, who led the area in tackling in the regular season.
“We’ve enjoyed extending this season with our seniors,” Kater said. “Just as adult mentors, it’s been fun to see the kids have some success and feel some pride in the R-P brand.”
The season has also created a foundation for the future, because it establishes a successful baseline for the program and sets a goal for future teams to aim for.
“Success breeds success,” the coach said. “That’s the most exciting part – getting kids excited about playing football. We’re being challenged, and he have a lot of great challenges ahead. That’s why we do what we’re doing. We don’t want to get comfortable. We want to be challenged and improve.”
The Rockets will be seeking the program’s first playoff victory since 1992, when Reeths-Puffer won the Class A state championship.
QB Brady Ross, who has been successful running and passing this season.
The team made the playoffs in 1995, 1997, 1999, 2007 and 2013, but lost in the first round each year.
Kater thinks he has the team that could pull off the upset and end that streak, based on what he’s seen all season and this week during practice.
“We had one of our better practices yesterday, and the best part is that the team continues to grow,” he said. “We have a bunch of fighters who have bought into the program and stuck it out, and we’re very excited about tomorrow.”