Before
I get to the list, I want to give some criteria for how I came up
with it. First of all, I tried to pick those games that meant the
most to the community and to the program. Second, I looked to see
that the game was close. Third, I tried to even out the list so that
one season/team isn't represented 7 times. Finally, I limited
the games to those I had been to or played in, a span that covers
11 years.
Also,
since this season is still in progress, I decided not to include any
games from this year. And that is a good thing, otherwise half the
list may be very familiar and fresh in our memories.
Ok,
enough stalling. Here is my list.
10)
Rockford at West Ottawa 1992
The
Rams of '92 featured as powerful and tough a team as any of the past
10 years. While they didn't possess the athleticism and speed of the
teams that followed them, they did something no other Rockford team
prior had done: win the OK-Red tittle. Seniors Seth Yon, Jason Grutter,
Chad Klaver, and Jason Schaub led Rockford through a tough conference
season and into the playoffs. Tim Saur hauled in a key touchdown pass
on a cold and windy night, and the Rams prevailed 18-8.
9)
Rockford at Brighton 1999 Regional Final
A
late blooming Ram squad of '99 finally came together to shock
Midland and Grand Haven on the road in the playoffs. The Rams won
their fourth straight regional final on this day, dealing Brighton
a physical pounding that may have no equal. The Rams found themselves
down at halftime and came out in the second half determined to play
on one more week. Playing in an unseasonably warm November afternoon,
the Mike Lundberg-led defense unloaded on a talented Brighton spread-offense.
The Rams made a mark on the east side of the state and won 40-20.
8)
Rockford at Jenison 1996
Things
did not look promising heading into this game. The Rams had eeked
out a win the week before over class BB Catholic Central, and carried
a four game losing steak to the Wildcats into the contest. Each team
looked tentative with their first few possessions, and then the game
broke wide open. J.R. Rhode blocked a Jenison punt in their end zone,
recovered the ball for a touchdown, and the Rams never looked back.
The Rams had a 42-0 halftime lead, en route to a 42-8 win. This win
was the springboard for much greater things for this team.
7)
East Kentwood at Rockford 1995
The
'95 Rams had a lot to accomplish heading into their season.
Consecutive losing seasons had brought down the Rams, yet the '95
Rams didn't flinch at their opportunity to turn the program
around. With one of the most dominating defenses the Rams ever fielded,
Rockford equaled a previous best for a conference mark by winning
a close game over the Jon Anes led Falcons, 14-7. This win also marked
the return of the Rams to the playoffs, propelling Rockford to a second
ever playoff berth.
6)
Rockford at Jenison 1998
The
Jenison faithful printed t-shirts the week before the game that had
the unbeaten Rams listed with a 6-1 record after facing the Wildcats.
Rumor has it that those shirts are the brightest in Jenison since
they've only been worn and washed once. Jenison had a chance
to make their T-shirt prophecy a reality until a late fumble was recovered
by senior Courtney Yon at the Ram 15 yard line. Rockford finished
up unbeaten in conference play and captured their third straight OK-Red
conference title. Rams win 7-6.
Rockford
would match up with the Wildcats again in the first round of the playoffs,
this time beating them 35-14.
5)
Grand Ledge at Rockford 1997 Regional Final
The
'97 Rams were the first (and only) Rockford team to post a 9-0
regular season record, the first to go 7-0 in the OK-Red, and the
first (and only) to be ranked in USA Today's football poll.
There were a lot of great things that this team accomplished on and
off the field. They have a lot to be proud of.
One
of those things is capturing a second straight regional title. The
Rams dismantled Lansing Eastern the previous week 49-7, scoring 42
on the Josh Thornhill led team before halftime. So shocking was this
that Grand Ledge coach Pat O'Keefe claimed on Lansing TV that
it was a fluke that would not be repeated against his Comets.
He
was right.
The
Rams scored 45 before halftime.
The
greatest assembly of football talent that Rockford has ever fielded
enjoyed a fitting home finale before 9000 snow covered fans.
Final
score, 45-13.
4)
Rockford vs. Detroit Catholic Central 1998 State Final
I
had a really hard time wondering where to place this game on my list.
This state final appearance is the pinnacle of Rockford football.
Not only that, but it was probably one of the best state final games
I've ever seen, Rockford or otherwise. Even though it wasn't
a Ram victory, this game is the high water mark for the football program.
It
was a high water mark for the community as well. A sea of orange covered
half of the Silverdome, impressing even Shamrock fans. I was purchasing
a book a year later at GVSU's bookstore when the teller, noticing
my Ram pullover, asked if I graduated from Rockford. Her brother played
for Detroit Catholic Central, and she noted, 'None of us could
believe how many fans you had and that they all wore orange. We were
embarrassed that there weren't more of us there for our team.
You guys must really love football.'
Dan
Richards and Tony Savickas each had great games, as did the entire
Rockford defense. It's no mean feat to hold the defending state
champs in check on the ground, especially one that boasts as much
talent as the Shamrocks did. High school football Internet-guru 'Searn'
has this Detroit Catholic Central squad listed as the states all-time
best at his web site. The Rams pushed them to the limit, and came
up five minutes short. In fact, this was one of those games that they
could still be playing, exchanging touchdowns and the lead. Unfortunately,
time ran out on the Rams, 27-23.
3)
East Kentwood at Rockford 2000 First Round Playoff
Don't
let their record, or (relatively) early playoff exit fool you; this
team is among the best that Rockford has ever fielded. A field goal
as time expired in the regional final against eventual state champion
Grand Ledge was the difference between a 9-3 record and who knows
what might have been.
East
Kentwood must also wonder what might have been following the frantic
finish to this first round playoff classic. The Rams spotted East
Kentwood at 24-8 lead before realizing that the season ends with a
loss. Jarad Smith's two touchdowns helped the Rams pull even
with the Falcons.
Vance
Nardin rumbled 70 yards to give the Falcons the lead with less than
5 minutes to play in the game. Kentwood ended up with the ball, and
the game, seemingly in hand before a fumble with 1:25 to play gave
the Rams life.
Converting
on 4th down not just once but twice on the final drive,
the Rams marched 70 yards with only one timeout in hand. Nate Teft
scored his second touchdown of the game with just :09.5 seconds to
play. The Rams win an electrifying playoff thriller, 32-30.
2)
Rockford at East Kentwood 1998
Why
rank this game as high as I did? It's not a playoff game. It
wasn't a league championship game, either. Plus, Kentwood's
record wasn't that great.
Well,
simply put, what Dan Richards did in this game is what every child
who ever touches a football dreams of and practices in his backyard;
throwing a game winning touchdown pass as time expires.
East
Kentwood took the lead with :54 seconds to play, 26-21. Rockford had
only one time out to spare, and 60 yards to go. The drive started
with a 40-yard pass from Richards to Mike Oaks. Another completion
to Andy Segard brought the Rams closer to the end zone, but only :08
seconds remained in the game. With 15 yards to go, Richards took the
snap from under center and dropped back. Scanning the field, Richards
had five receivers probing the Falcon secondary for an opening, and
one Kentwood defensive lineman with a hand reaching out for a game
ending sack.
Richards
somehow managed to elude the defender, and began sprinting towards
the line of scrimmage. More Kentwood down linemen were closing in
and only two options remained; run for the end zone, or hope for a
receiver to come open.
As
it appeared to all that Richards would attempt to scamper into the
end zone, he quickly fired the ball at Segard in the back of the end
zone. Lying out along the grass, Segard slid across the field with
the ball tucked safely away in both of his arms. Game over. Rockford
wins, 27-26.
1)Bay City
Central at Rockford 1996 Regional Final
This
is the greatest game in the history of Rockford football.
When
the season began, no one expected this team to do anything.
They had graduated a very strong senior class and were woefully short
on players with game experience. Some questioned whether there was
any senior leadership to be found among them.
They
barely beat class BB Catholic Central in their first game. Some were
expecting a blow-out the next week at defending league champion Jenison.
They were right, although few would have predicted Rockford to win
42-8. Fewer still would have believed that prediction.
As
the season wore on, these Rams were faced with more of the same doubts.
'Are they for real?' After a dominating win against eventual
class A state champion Grandville, the Rams still hadn't been
totally accepted among fans, the media, or other teams as a legitimate
playoff contender.
The
'96 Rams equaled previous school records for regular season
record, conference record, and won a conference title. Yet still there
were doubters. Not so much about the team, but about Rockford. 'Are
they for real?'
Following
a frantic playoff selection Sunday, the Rams found that they would
host their first playoff game ever against traditional power Muskegon.
A new tradition would start for Rockford the next Saturday, as the
team that everyone questioned answered back the only way they knew
how: beating Muskegon 41-6 and winning the school's first playoff
game.
Rockford
now had the chance to play in the regional final against a crafty
team from Bay City Central. This is what the playoffs were about.
This was exciting and new. Who was Bay City? What was their mascot?
What colors were they? Would their band be any good? Would they bring
a lot of fans?
The
most exciting thing that the '96 Rams brought us (in addition
to this game) was the fun that the playoffs are. There's mystery
in who the opponent is. There's finality in the games: win and
you're in, lose and the season is over. Big crowds come out
to the games. The Ted is rocking. The air is electric. Sometimes it
snows. There is nothing like playoff time in November.
This
particular playoff game was a classic. Mike Segard threw three touchdown
passes for the Rams, but Bay City's quarterback proved that
he could equal Segard. With a tricky play-action passing attack, the
Wolves overcame a 14-0 deficit to take a 21-14 lead.
Jeff
Wilson led the Rams back in the second half to keep the Rams in the
game.
Actually,
Wilson did more than lead the Rams back. He carried the Rams on his
back. He rushed past, over and through anyone who stood between him
and the end zone. With time running out in the fourth quarter, Wilson's
two touchdowns brought the Rams back from the edge of defeat to tie
the game at 28-28.
The
Ram defense, one the best Rockford defenses in school history, surrendered
yards to Bay City on their final drive, but no points. With a minute
to go in the game, the Rams, paced by Dan and Tom Hosford, held firm
with a goal line stand and forced Bay City to attempt a field goal
for the win. Intense pressure from the Rams extra point block team
caused a Wolf defender to inadvertently block his own teams kick.
The
Rams took possession of the ball and quickly marched down the field
behind runs by Segard and Hosford, but a field goal attempt of their
own came up short as time expired. It was time for overtime.
Rockford
struck quickly as Segard connected with a wide-open Pete Buurstra
in the end zone on only their second play. The Rams looked cool and
poised on offense, and seemed to have the game in hand, but a missed
extra point looked as if the Ram's season could be doomed to
an overtime loss.
Bay
City took possession at the Ram 10, in the south end zone of the Ted.
Their first play, a sweep to the outside, was met by Tom Hosford one
yard deep in the Wolves backfield. Second down and 11 almost proved
disastrous for Bay City. Senior defensive lineman Mike Saunders knocked
the ball loose from the Wolves quarterback, but an alert Bay City
lineman covered the ball before the Rams could claim it.
Third
down and 11 was the crucial play of the series. Bay City had damaged
Rockford's defense all day long with their play-action pass,
and it was only natural to do what worked best when the game was on
the line. The Ram's defense was prepared though, and the defensive
secondary was ready.
The
Wolves quarterback took the snap from under center, faked the hand-off
to his running back, and rolled back to pass. An alert Rockford secondary
held to their assigned coverage, and there were no open receivers
for Bay City. Pressure from Rockford's interior line forced
the Wolves quarterback away from his protection, and he scrambled
back from the line of scrimmage.
Away
from the play, Saunders was blocked and knocked to the ground by the
Wolves offensive line. There is a reason that coaches teach their
players not to give up on a play, and that reason is what Saunders
did next.
Picking
himself up off the ground, Saunders spied the Wolves quarterback and
bolted after him. They met 18 yards later at the Rams 28, as the Bay
City quarterback was hit and dropped for a game breaking sack.
With
4th and 28, the Wolves called timeout and lined up with
three receivers to the right of their formation. It was presumably
one of many Hail Mary's called in the moments before the snap.
Bay
City's line held firm, and the Rams couldn't pressure
the Wolves quarterback. The pass was delivered and seemed to hang
in the air. One thing was certain as soon as it was thrown: it would
reach the end zone.
As
the pass arced down, a crowd of Rams and Wolves camped underneath.
Rising above all others was the Ram who carried the team on his back
in the fourth quarter. Wilson jumped up and calmly batted the ball
down to the earth.
Game
over, 34-28.
Like
nothing that had ever come before, the Rams of '96 set the precedent
and expectations of all Rockford teams that would follow them. They
rallied a community around high school football and inspired a massive
following and support that few schools enjoy in Michigan or in the
Midwest. Five straight regional final appearances, four semi-finals,
three conference championships, and one state finals appearance; all
of these started with this group, and this game was their finest moment.
This was the greatest game in the history of Rockford
football.
This
doesn't have to end here! Send me your own list, and why, of
Rockford's 10 best games of the past 10 seasons. If you can
make a case of some other compelling moments in Rockford's football
history, aside from the past 10 years, send those in too. Email those
thoughts and comments to me at tim_saunders41@hotmail.com
and we'll feature the best replies here in a future column. Go RAMS!
Honorable
Mention Games:
2000
Grand Ledge 27-30: Tough loss to eventual state champs
1997
East Kentwood 14-12: Big win over classic conference rivals
1997
Jenison 35-23: 'You
Got Rockford'
1996
East Kentwood 6-7: Defensive battle that EK wins on blocked FG
1996
Grandville 23-13: Only loss for state champion Bulldogs
1996
Muskegon 41-6: First ever playoff win, first home playoff game
1994
East Kentwood 7-3: Another
EK gem decided in the last minute
1993
Grandville 28-38: First ever game at the Ted is a close loss to Bulldogs
1992
Grand Ledge 0-24: Battered Rams lose first ever playoff game
