Rockford senior running back Bradd Vanderveen knew the Jenison football team had plenty of intangibles working for it Friday night.

Not only were the Wildcats celebrating their homecoming, but they were playing their first game in the beautifully remodeled David McKenzie Field.

But the Rams spoiled the party, beating Jenison 27-24 on a fourth-quarter touchdown run by Vanderveen, and a solid defensive stand late in the game.

"We knew they had a nice stadium here, and it was their first game here and homecoming, so this is a very satisfying win," Vanderveen said. "We had a very poor week of practice, and whether it was the disappointing loss to East Kentwood last week, our heads weren't in it this week. And we just came together at the right time."

After a touchdown pass from quarterback B.J. Wells to wide receiver Steve Boss gave Jenison a 24-20 lead late in the third quarter, the Rams got the ball on their own 34-yard line to start what would be the game-winning drive.

The drive was aided by some trickery from Rockford coach Ralph Munger, as the Rams were facing a fourth-and-six from the 50-yard line, when Munger called an incredible guard reverse.

Guard Luke Biemers took the ball and went 12 yards for the first down to keep the drive alive.

Three plays later, Vanderveen went in from 31 yards out, and after a Drew Campanelli kick, the Rams had a 27-24 lead.

"You know the old saying, every once in a while the blind squirrel finds a nut," said Munger about his gutsy call to use a lineman to get possibly the biggest first down of the game.

"Coming into this game we didn't prepare well. Our focus was not where it is supposed to be. But to the guys' credit, we took advantage of things that came our way, and we made some things happen."

It was the defense's turn to make things happen with the game on the line and less than five minutes to play.

With Jenison driving in Rockford's red zone, the Rams' defense held on a fourth-and-one from the Rockford 10-yard line. Jenison running back John Sheeran was stopped inches short of the first down, giving the ball to the Rams.

Rockford went on to run out the final 3:40 for the important O-K Red Metro win.

"Our major intent is to improve each game, and we might have taken a step back tonight," Munger said. "But they might have had something to do with that, they played well and hard. Still, it was a huge win for us."

Jenison coach Dave Larkin really wanted a win for his team and the community on a special night.

"We had our chances," Larkin said. "We just made far too many mistakes, and we have to eliminate those mistakes when you play a good team like Rockford.

"But I am proud of the way my kids played," he added. "They just executed better than we did tonight."