Rockford
Rams 21. Milford 14
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Rockford defense makes a difference late
By Greg Johnson / The Grand Rapids Press
MILFORD -- A mad finish
came down to what the Rockford Rams like to call a "M.A.D." play,
or plays that make a difference. Rockford senior defensive back
Jeremy Jones intercepted a pass inside the Rams' 5-yard line
with 26 seconds left to preserve
a 21-14 Division 1 regional championship win over host Highland
Milford
on Saturday.
Rockford (11-1), winners of consecutive state titles, advance
to the state semifinals next Saturday to meet familiar Canton
(12-0)
at a site to be determined. Last year's Rams beat Canton 31-21
in the Division 1 state championship game.
"I saw the quarterback
roll out, saw that our defensive end was holding him inside and
then saw him cock his arm," Jones said of the interception. "I
knew if he threw it, the ball was mine. I just made a break on it, and it
felt so great knowing our team was moving on. I saw all the smiling
faces on the sideline."
Highland Milford (10-2)
was attempting to complete a drive from its 12-yard line. The
interception was
the 15th play of the drive that started with 7:03
remaining. The drive included a daring screen pass reception and run by
slot back Jordan Kidd that covered 27 yards, picking up a first
down when facing
third down
and 23 and putting the Mavericks at the Rockford 16-yard line with 41 seconds
remaining.
Bending, not breaking
Two
plays later, though, Jones stepped in front of a rushed pass
in the flat by Milford quarterback Jordan Fox. Jones'
interception was the third "M.A.D." play
by the Rockford defense in the drive. The Rams kept the Mavericks from
scoring earlier in the drive with consecutive sacks by
defensive lineman Jimmy Moerdyk and linebacker
Kyle Beyer. "
Coach Veen (defensive coordinator Randy VanderVeen) is always on us
about making 'M.A.D.' plays, and it was time to make them," Jones
said. "We were
just refusing to let them get in."
Rockford coach Ralph
Munger was feeling much the same about things. "
I was thinking Milford was going to get in there, score and go for
two on the conversion, and it would come down to that," Rockford
coach Ralph Munger said. "But the defense stepped up and pushed
it to the final minute. That was great. That was huge." The
Rams took a 21-14 lead with 7:12 left in the game on a 65-yard pass
from
quarterback Tom Fusee to wide receiver Callan Sherd. Sherd
stepped
out of
a tackle and raced the final 40 yards on the play.
That score came
on the heels of a long Milford drive that ended with a missed 25-yard
field goal attempt by Paul Consiglio that hit the
upright. It was
the second missed field goal in the game by Consiglio, and the
Mavericks also lost
a possible touchdown with a Kidd fumble near the goal line late
in the second quarter.
"
They gave us everything we wanted," Munger said. "We got killed on
special teams. Our offense made a few big plays, but they were big and by our
playmakers, and the defense just never quit. They got some sacks. They got the
interception. That's a big, big win over a tough, tough team."
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