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2010 Rapid River Rockets Football
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Date |
Result |
Opponent |
Record |
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Aug 27
Sep 2
Sep 10
Sep 17
Sep 2
Oct 8
Oct 15
Oct 22 |
L, 24-48
L, 0-55
L, 14-62
W, 52-0
L, 0-39
L, 6-36
L, 0-56
L, 20-48 |
PICKFORD
at North Central
NORTH DICKINSON
at Ewen-Trout Creek
at Cedarville
at Bark River-Harris
STEPHENSON
at L'Anse |
0-1
0-2
0-3
1-3
1-4
1-5
1-6
1-7 |
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HOMECOMING HORRORS
The Rapid River Rockets lined up to-to-toe with the Stephenson Eagles Friday night, but had no answers for the visitors in a 56-0 loss. (Elle Lancour photo)
Rockets Show Heart But Are Overwhelmed, 56-0
RAPID RIVER---There was not much doubt who would win Friday night's game between the Rapid River Rockets and Stephenson Eagles. But what did remain to be seen was whether the overmatched Rocket players would pack it in, or would they fight to the bitter end?
Well, the understaffed and undersized Rockets battled hard throughout the game, but were simply overwhelmed by the playoff bound Eagles, 56-0. It was an unhappy Homecoming night for the Rockets, and it marked the final eleven-man football game to be played on this field. Rapid River joins an eight-man league in 2011.
Rockets Coach Steve Ostrenga says his boys did the best they could.
"I can't be more proud of our guys," Ostrenga said. "We had some adversity during the game, and we had some adversity during the week. I hope you don't look at the scoreboard and say 'hey, we gave up 56 points', because there were a lot of goofy things that happened.
"That's football, I guess," Ostrenga continued. "But our guys played hard and they hit hard. Boy, I'd like to bottle this up and go back to last week (a 38-6 loss at Bark River-Harris)"
Stephenson scored its first touchdown late in the first quarter as Nolan Lukasik went in from one yard out. Quarterback Austin Grinsteiner scored the two-point conversion to make it 8-0. The Rockets went three-and-out, and then on the punt, the kick went straight up and took a bad bounce...ten yards backwards.
 Grinsteiner wasted no time in passing to Kane Rasner for the touchdown and Stephenson led, 14-0.
<<<Rasner (23) catches the pass for a touchdown.
The Rockets had some fight in them, though, and drove down to the Eagle 14 yard-line, getting a 4th-and-14 pass completion from Derek Pistulka to sophomore Eli Orth along the way. But sophomore Brett Branstrom's 31-yard field goal was wide to the left.
That was as close as the Rockets would get to putting points on the board. Moments later, Joe Smotucha rambled 51 yards for an Eagles touchdown, then Smotucha scored on a six-yard plunge just before halftime to give the Eagles a 28-0 lead at the break.
Stephenson had some fun in the second half as Coach Chad Brandt substituted freely. Lineman Tanner Jacques scored on a two-yard touchdown plunge, and Lukasik got the two-point run to set the mercy rule clock in motion. Later, Tyler Raether scored two touchdowns (one and five yards), and then a strange play put a cap on a long and frustrating season for Rapid River.
With the game clock winding down, Rockets quarterback Derek Pistulka scrambled, stopped, and prepared to throw the ball. He fumbled it into the arms of Smotucha, who raced 77 yards for his third touchdown of the game, this one, on a defensive play.
That led to a "venting" of frustration on the Rocket sidelines.
"It's normal for a young man to hang his head when adversity happens on the field," Ostrenga said. "I went to Derek and I shook his hand, and I said, 'Derek, I love everything you've given us. I love the fact that you stepped up to the plate'."
Smotucha had 103 yards on seven carries to lead Stephenson, which improved to 5-2 and clinched a spot in the state playoffs. Sawyer Grinsteiner had 85 yards on seven carries, Lukasik 71 yards on six touches, and Raether 64 yards on six carries. Austin Grinsteiner completed eight of nine passes for 71 yards. The team had 400 yards.
 Rapid River (1-6) was led by Jake Berglund, who carried 18 times for 102 yards. Pistulka had 27 yards rushing and 27 yards passing.
Stephenson's Austin Grinstener scores a two point conversion. >>
Rapid River has one more game left, next Friday night in L'Anse, but in many ways, this Homecoming loss seemed like the end of the season. Ostrenga was emotional afterward.
"Congratulations to our seniors and all of our ballplayers for playing hard football and not quitting out there."
Ostrenga has been in the Rapid River program for 20 years. He says the end of 11-man football is a sad end to an era, but there may be a new future for Rockets football in the eight-man game in 2011.
"Whether I'm coaching or not, I want to see football continue at Rapid River," Ostrenga said. "I have a passion for it. I bleed purple. The kids have played tough football here for 18, 19 years. I just hope it continues. We just need that mentality to play hard-nosed football, and expect to do it every year, not hope for it to happen."
WATCH VIDEO CLIPS FROM THE ROCKETS-EAGLES GAME!
CLICK HERE to see a 15-yard run by Rockets' Derek Pistulka.
CLICK HERE to see Pistulka and Eli Orth connect on a long pass.
CLICK HERE to see Brett Branstrom oh, so close in the end zone.
CLICK HERE to see a 29-yard run by Eagles' Nolan Lukasik.
CLICK HERE to see Tanner Jacques score for Stephenson.
CLICK HERE to see Taylor Raether score for Stephenson.
CLICK HERE to see Kane Rasner kick an extra point. |
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OPPORTUNITY LOST
Rapid River senior Derek Pistulka (7) runs during Friday night's game in Bark River, as Travis Frazier (33) comes to block and BR-H's Eric Ingebrightsen (31) comes over to defend. Rapid River lost the game, 36-6. (Matt Lanaville photo)
Rockets Gain Little Traction In Loss At Bark River
HARRIS---The Rapid River Rockets and Bark River-Harris Broncos both entered Friday night's game on a misson, and that mission was similiar: have some fun enjoying a victory while prolonging the other guy's misery. After all, these two teams were at the bottom of the Mid-Eastern Football Conference. Both thought they could win.
But in the end, it was the Bark River boys who had most of the fun as the Broncos posted a 36-6 win that made for a happy Homecoming in Casino Country. BR-H quarterback Nick Johnson scored two touchdowns on the ground and threw for two more, wearing the Rockets down after the game was just 8-6 at halftime.
Rapid River's defense played tough throughout the first half, as Derek Pistulka intercepted two passes and Brett Branstrom picked off another pass to squelch several Bronco drives. One chink in the Rocket armor was a 25-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Mitch Wentland on fourth and long in the first quarter. BR-H had the lead.
But late in the second quarter, Pistulka found Cory Scovill for a 12 yard pass to the one-yard-line, then Pistulka plunged in from one yard out to put Rapid on the board with 1:21 left in the half. The two point play failed, however, so Rapid River was still behind, 8-6.
 Rapid River's steady two-way player, Travis Frazier, was injured in the second quarter as he finished off a five-yard run. At first, it looked like he was suffering from cramps.
<<<Travis Frazier is hurt.
But moments later, it became clear that he had some kind of a leg injury. Frazier was carted off the field on a stretcher about a half-hour later.
The Rockets dodged a bullet when BR-H appeared to score a touchdown on a pass from Johnson to Dane Messersmith on 2nd and 14. A holding penalty erased the touchdown, and the Rockets held on the next three plays, with Pistulka picking off a pass at the five.
The second half was not good for Rapid River. Bark River-Harris took the opening kickoff and marched 65 yards, with the touchdown coming on a 38-yard pass from Nick Johnson to Cody Londo. A two point pass to Homecoming King Mitch Wentland made it 16-6.
Listen to Radio Replays from the game by clicking the 'ROCKETS FALL IN BARK RIVER" button on the left side of this page.
When the Rockets got the ball back, Pistulka got hit and fumbled the ball. Bark River drove 48 yards in nine plays to score on a one-yard run by Johnson to make it 22-6. Rapid River stopped the two-point play, so the Rockets were still within two scores. But the next two possesions ended in negative plays, the second on another fumble.
Bark River drove 40 yards in seven plays, with Lexie Keshick scoring on 4th and goal at the one. That made it 28-6, and it was "Lights Out" for the Rockets. Keshick had 141 yards on 23 carries to lead the Broncos, who had 409 yards of total offense. Johnson completed 11 of 22 passes for 170 yards with two touchdowns and three picks.
For the Rockets, Pistulka had 51 yards on 13 carries. Jake Berglund added 33 yards on 13 touches, and Jake Anderson had 16 yards on four carries. Rapid River had just 27 yards in the air and had 145 total yards. The teams combined for 25 penalties in the game.
WATCH VIDEO CLIPS FROM THE BRONCOS-ROCKETS GAME!
CLICK HERE to see a run by Derek Pistulka.
CLICK HERE to see Derek Pistulka's touchdown run.
CLICK HERE to see a TD pass to Dane Messersmith (called back on penalty)
CLICK HERE to see Nick Johnson's pass intercepted by Derek Pistulka.
CLICK HERE to see a 15-yard run by Lexie Keshick.
CLICK HERE to see a pass to Cody Londo.
CLICK HERE to see a pass to Jake Kleiman.
CLICK HERE to see a long run by Dane Messersmith.
CLICK HERE to see a touchdown run by Lexie Keshick.
CLICK HERE to see a touchdown run by Nick Johnson.
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AN OFFENSIVE MACHINE
 North Dickinson's Cory Johnson catches a long pass for a touchdown as Trevor Palmer tries to hang on for a tackle Friday night
North Dickinson Rolls Past Rapid River, 62-14
RAPID RIVER---The game almost didn't happen. When only 12 players showed up for practice on Monday, Rapid River Coach Steve Ostrenga seriously considered forfeiting Friday night's game against the North Dickinson Nordics. There was no point, he said, to subject his young players to a beating if the seniors and other upper classmen weren't going to give it their all. So, he addressed the team.
"I wanted to know who wanted to play some football," Ostrenga said. "We talked to the seniors and they said they wanted to play a football game. So, we said, 'guys, we need all you've got. Give us your best effort and win or lose, hold your head up.'"
Dillon Headington was one of the seniors who spoke up at that team meeting Thursday afternoon.
"I want to beat them," Headington said. "It's my last chance."
The Rockets had several good offensive drives but literally could not stop the North Dickinson offense, and the Nordics rolled, 62-14. The Rockets helped the visitors by committing five turnovers in the game.
"I liked the effort here tonight," Ostrenga said. "We were trying some different things in the second half to open things up and get some quicker scores, and that's when we made some mistakes. I told the seniors that if they give us that kind of effort in practice this week, we can play some football (next week at Ewen-Trout Creek)."
 The tone was set early when Daniel Knapp scored on a 54-yard run on a quarterback sweep on just the second play of the game. Then Knapp intercepted a Derek Pistulka pass a moment later, and it looked like it would be a blowout from the beginning.
Max Smith runs for the Nordics>>>
But the Rockets got the ball back when Max Smith fumbled at the one yard line, and they were able to get a couple of first downs before punting. Knapp returned that punt to the Rocket 30, and three plays later, Smith scored on a nine-yard run. Dillon Steinbrecher ran in the two point play and it was 16-0. But the Rockets responded with a nice drive, 62 yards in ten plays, capped by a five-yard Pistulka run.
Dickinson responded with a 65-yard, five-play drive, that ended on a two-yard Steinbrecher plunge. After Ben Reith ran in the conversion, the Nordics led, 24-6. Then after a Rocket fumble, Smith scored on a four-yard run to make it a 32-6 game.
Rapid River came back, as Pistulka hooked up with 6-5 receiver Brett Branstrom for two big plays that excited the Parent's Night crowd.
First was a 36-yard jump-ball pass in double coverage to midfield, then, a 48-yard catch for a touchdown. Pistulka's two-point run cut the lead to 32-14.
<<<Brett Branstrom's 36 yard catch over ND's Daniel Knapp.
But as soon as North Dickinson got the ball back, Knapp hooked up with Cory Johnson for a long bomb. He caught the ball at the 10 yard line and carried tacklers with him into the end zone. After the two point run by Steinbrecher, it was a 40-14 Nordic lead at halftime.
(You can listen to the radio replays of both Rocket touchdowns, and one of the Nordic touchdowns, by clicking the NORDICS TOP ROCKETS button on the left side of this page.)
"They have a lot of weapons," Ostrenga said of the Nordic offense. "They're a strong, physical, big, fast football team, at the skilled positions. If you give them a little seam, they hit it hard."
North Dickinson blanked the Rockets in the second half. Steinbrecher (five yards) and Gabe Nelson (23 yards) scored running touchdowns, and Smith returned an interception 53 yards for a third TD.
With the score 62-14 late in the third quarter, Nordic Coach Joe Reddinger chose to take a knee on the two-point conversion to avoid having the new 50-point mercy rule take effect. As it was, the game ended on the running clock under the old 35-point mercy rule (the clock continues to run in more situations under the new mercy rule).
Ostrenga summed up his team's play this way.
"It wasn't so much that we were out-hit tonight," Ostrenga said. "It's just that we're learning to play the game of football yet. We did some good things. But at times, we didn't tackle as well as we need to."
 North Dickinson (3-0) outgained Rapid River, 496-283. The Nordics had a balanced attack, with Knapp completing four passes for 160 yards and running twice for 81 yards and a touchdown.
Nordic Ben Reith (26) finds a hole as Rapid's Trevor Palmer (20) gets ready for a tackle Friday night.>>>
Smith had 83 yards on ten carries and two touchdowns. Steinbrecher had 69 yards on 12 carries and a pair of scores. Reith had 54 yards on five touches. For the Rockets, Pistulka had 71 yards on 20 carries, and he completed five of 12 passes for 112 yards, a touchdown and three picks. Travis Frazier had 36 yards on 11 carries and Jake Berglund, back after last week's injury, had 38 yards on 11 carries.
Rapid River (0-3) travels to Ewen-Trout Creek next Friday night.
WATCH VIDEO REPLAYS OF THE GAME
Click HERE to see North Dickinson's first touchdown by Knapp.
Click HERE to see Knapp intercept a pass (TD was called back).
Click HERE to see the Rockets recover a Max Smith fumble.
Click HERE to see ND's Max Smith score a nine-yard touchdown.
Click HERE to see Rapid's Trevor Palmer break off a long run.
Click HERE to see Derek Pistulka's five-yard TD run.
Click HERE to see Knapp throw a bomb to Smith for ND.
Click HERE to see a touchdown run by ND's Dillon Steinbrecher.
Rapid River's Derek Pistulka (7) looks for running room during Friday night's game against North Dickinson. Bottom photo: Rocket BIG guy Brad Parsons walks across the field with his parents during Friday's Parent's Night.
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Jets Soar Past Banged-Up Rockets
Rapid River quarterback Derek Pistulka waits for the snap as he leads his team downfield Thursday against North Central. The Rockets trailed just 6-0 late in the second quarter, but things quickly fell apart as the Jets cruised, 55-0.
POWERS---For almost the entire first half, the Rapid River Rockets and North Central Jets played some competitive football. The Jets had a 6-0 lead, but the underdog Rockets were hanging in there, and had some confidence as their defense made a couple of big stops.
But everything fell apart for Rapid River in the final three minutes of the second quarter, and the Jets capitalized in a big way. The Rockets committed three turnovers and North Central answered with three touchdowns, building a 28-0 halftime lead and cruising to a 55-0 win.
"They put the ball on the ground a couple of times and they missed a few tackles," North Central Coach Kevin Bellefeuil said. "You could tell that they were awfully young. But it was a struggle early on because Rapid played some good football."
 "We tried hard, but with our team, it's basically too many people getting hurt," Rockets senior fullback Travis Frazier said. "We fall apart. We just make too many mistakes."
North Central drew first blood with a 60-yard-eight-play drive on its opening possession, capped off by an eight-yard touchdown run by Ethan Dombrowski. The extra point kick was blocked.
CLICK HERE to see video replay of Dombrowski's touchdown. You can also hear the radio replay of that TD by clicking the "JETS 55 ROCKETS 0" button on the left side of this page.
The teams traded turnovers and punts for most of the half, and then came the fateful three minutes. Freshman quarterback Jake Pearson threw an interception to Matt Wolsker on 3rd and 26 late in the quarter, giving the Jets the ball at the Rapid 23. Two plays later, Steve LeBoeuf strolled into the end zone to make it 12-0.
As soon as the Rockets got the ball back, they fumbled again, with Wolsker making the recovery. On the next play, Tyler Mercier scored on a sweep from 23 yards out. The two-point pass to sophomore Dyllion Hanchek gave the NCA Jets a 20-0 lead.
CLICK HERE to see video replay of Mercier's touchdown.
CLICK HERE to see video replay of the two-point pass.
 Rapid River's problems did not end there. A fumble on a punt gave the Jets the ball again in the closing seconds, and Bryce Bilski ripped off runs of 16 and five yards on sweep plays to score another Jets touchdown.
CLICK HERE to see video replay of Bilski's 16-yard run. Click HERE to see video of Bilski's TD.
So, itwas 28-0, and then, it started to rain. It rained hard. For Rapid River, a miserable night just got worse. They only had 15 kids to begin with, then they got banged up during the game and some junior varisty kids stepped in to finish the game.
In the third quarter, Mercier made sure the game would end on a running clock. He broke off a 49-yard touchdown run, and moments later, Mercier returned a punt 53 yards for a score. It was 42-0.
Mercier's best play of the night actually came back in the second quarter, when he had a sensational 43-yard run that included six broken or side-stepped tackles.
You can hear the radio replay of Mercier's run by clicking the JETS 55 ROCKETS 0 button on the left side of this page.
"I got the toss, and I ran outside because I saw some open space," Mercier said. "I broke a few tackles just well enough to not go down. Dyllion Hanchek threw a nice block and Bryce Bilski threw a nice block. I just kept slipping away."
 Then, Mercier joked: "Maybe I had Vaselline on my jersey!"
Tylor Arnold scored on a 47-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter, much to the surprise of Bellefeuil and Arnold's teammates. Then the game ended with Sebastian Kirkpatrick returning a punt 88 yards for a TD, set up by a monster block by Mercier.
What? A monster block by Mercier?
"I saw Sebastian got the ball on the punt, and I saw (Rapid's) Cory Scovill come across," Mercier grinned. "I waived Sebastian to come over, and I just luckily got my head in front of him (Scovill) and got the block and spun him."
For Rapid River, was there anything positive to take from the game?
"Nope," Frazier said glumly, shaking his head. "A lot us don't know how to block or anything (yet). It's like we're still beginners. We had some 14, 15 year-olds out there playing."
MORE VIDEO CLIPS FROM THE GAME
CLICK HERE to see Josh Berger and Alex Winkelbauer dive for a lateral pass in the second quarter of the game.
CLICK HERE to see a pass batted away from Tyler Mercier.
CLICK HERE to see the Jets' Matt Wolsker recover a fumble.
CLICK HERE to see Tyler Demuse score a two-point conversion.
North Central High School Dedicates Flag Pole
 Pictured above: The Sons of the American Legion Squadron 244 take part in a dedication ceremony for the new flag and flag pole for the North Central High School football field. It was a project spearheaded by 14-year-old Lucas Burke, who is an Eagle Scout, and his older brother, Jacob, who is also an Eagle Scout.
Pictured left: The Burke brothers salute the flag as it is raised for the first time during a ceremony before Thursday night's football game between the Rapid River Rockets and North Central Jets. The national anthem played over the loudspeaker and the teams, and all of the spectators, stood at attention during the ceremony.
CLICK HERE to see a video replay of the flag-raising ceremony. |
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TRENCH BATTLE LOST
This is where Friday night's Rapid River-Pickford game was won Friday night: at the line of scrimmage. Pickford rolled up 497 yards of total offense and beat the Rockets, 48-24. Below picture: Rapid River's Derek Pistulka (7) gives the ball to Jake Berglund (21), as Travis Frazier (33) blocks. (Earl Lancour photos)
 Pickford O-Line Dominates, 48-24
RAPID RIVER---Rapid River football coach Steve Ostrenga was hoping that his young defensive front would be able to "grow into" their assignments against the experienced and over-sized Pickford Panther offensive line.
But unfortunately, the Rocket defense was not up to the task, as Pickford's offense had a field day in rolling up 497 yards of total offense and cruising past Rapid River, 48-24, Friday.
The main benefactor of that strong blocking was Pickford fullback Charlie Halsey. He ran wild Friday night, gaining 282 yards on just 17 carries, and scoring five touchdowns....four of them on long runs.
Halsey scored on a 40-yard run with 6:33 left in the first quarter, then ripped off a 38-yard TD run with 51 seconds left in the stanza. With the Rocket offense sputtering (only one first down, and that was on a facemask penalty), Pickford did pretty much what it wanted.
Click here to see a video clip of Halsey's run that made it 14-0.
Facing fourth-and-four at the Rocket 35, Panther quarterback Adam Taylor found Jared Lavigne for a 35-yard TD pass. Rapid River certainly wasn't expecting a pass there, and it worked for the visitors, as they held a 22-0 lead just four minutes into the second quarter.
Click here to see a video clip of the Taylor-to-Lavigne TD pass.
But the Rockets made a game of it. Derek Pistulka broke off a 58 yard touchdown run, then threw a conversion pass to Brett Branstrom to put the home team on the board.
Moments later, with Pickford facing 3rd-and-13, Taylor lobbed a pass into the flat that Pistulka got a great jump on. The Rocket senior intercepted the ball and scampered down the sideline to bring Rapid River even closer. A two-point pass to Zack Pavlot made it 22-16.
Click here to see a video clip of Pistulka's interception return.
So, with just 2:49 left in the half, Rapid River trailed by just six points. But that final 2:49 would be rough for the home team, as Pickford would put 18 points on the board to lead, 40-16.
 First, it was Halsey again, this time from 44 yards out, just three plays after Rapid River's score. Seth Gruenberg's two-point run made it 30-16.
On the ensuing kickoff, Dillon Headington had trouble receiving it, and when he chased the ball down to the one yard-line, his knee hit the ground. Oops!
The Rockets were backed up, and they ended up giving up a safety when they were called for intentional grounding.
After the free kick, Pickford got the ball at the Rapid River 45. Jordan Lavigne broke free for an apparent touchdown run, but he somehow fumbled the ball at the one yard line. Of course, Pickford recovered, and Halsey scored on the next play. It was 40-16.
In the second half, Rapid River closed to within 40-24 when Pistulka hooked up with Branstrom for a 23-yard touchdown pass. Then it looked like the Rockets would get even closer when, on the ensuing kickoff, the ball landed near the sideline at the Pickford 17. As four Panther players waited for it to go out of bounds, Rapid River's Trevor Palmer fell on the live ball, and the Rockets were in business.
But not for long. An offensive pass-interference penalty killed the Rockets (15 yards and a loss of down) and they did not score. When Pickford got the ball back, they fumbled, and the Rockets moved to within the Panther 18 yard-line. But Pistulka got sacked and an incomplete pass ended that scoring chance.
The Rockets forced the Panthers to punt, and in the fourth quarter, Rapid River put together a nice drive, with Pistulka operating on the option at times, out of the shot gun at other times. They moved from their own 16 to the Pickford 11. But an 18-yard holding penalty killed that drive, which ended on a desperation heave on 4th-and-33.
Pickford then got a cosmetic touchdown against a whipped Rocket defense, on a 59-yard run by Halsey with 4:02 left in the game.
Besides Halsey's 282 yards, Jordan Lavigne had 86 yards on 12 carries, and Gruenberg had 63 yards on 12 carries. Taylor completed 4 of 6 passes for 62 yards, a touchdown and interception.
For Rapid River, Pistulka had 147 yards on 16 carries, and Pistulka threw for 51 yards. Berglund had 54 yards on 12 carries.
Pickford's Jordan Lavigne (22, middle) carries the ball into a logjam. Bottom photo: Rapid River Offensive Coordinator Jeremy Herman talks strategy with his team during Friday night's 48-24 loss to Pickford. (Earl Lancour photos)
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