TOP 10 GAMES OF ALL TIME
by Tim Saunders
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