Rockford seizes momentum, jumps on TC West
By Jeff Chaney / The Grand Rapids Press
ROCKFORD -- Brogan Bibler
came up big right off the bat.
After Traverse City West's defense held Rockford's offense to
three plays-and-out on its first possession of the game, the
Titans took the ball and were driving for a touchdown.
That's when Bibler, a junior defensive back for the Rams, set
the winning tone early by intercepting a J.T. Hogan pass, and
returning the ball 98 yards for a score.
That seized momentum, and from there the Rams built a three-touchdown
lead by halftime, and held on for a 28-16 win over the visiting
Titans on Friday night in Division 1 first round action.
Rockford will now travel to Holt High School on Friday for a
game with the Holt Rams at 7 p.m. Holt beat Battle Creek Central
25-18 in their first-round playoff game Friday night.
"It was a momentum swing," Bibler said. "We practiced
that play all week, and it was a big momentum boost for the team.
"(Rockford coach Ralph Munger) talked about making mad
plays all week, and I think that one may have made a difference.
I just stepped in front of the receiver and ran as fast as I
could."
Munger was pleased to see his team up a score so early in a
playoff game.
"(Brogan) came up big, he was Johnny on the spot," Munger
said. "We practiced against that all week, and that was
a perfect example of executing what we practiced."
Bibler's pick was one of three Rockford interceptions in the
first half that allowed Rockford to build a 21-0 lead by the
break.
Derek Beemer also picked off a Hogan pass that the Rams turned
into a touchdown two plays later when Anthony Krygier hit Donny
Schaner on a 24-yard pitch-pass strike that gave Rockford its
third touchdown.
"It's tough to overcome (those turnovers)," Traverse
City West coach Matt Prisk said. "It's about trying to make
plays, and sometimes kids make mistakes. We hung our defense
out to dry a lot, but you have to give credit to Ralph and his
staff, they were prepared for us."
Prisk was happy to see his team fight back in the second half,
scoring two touchdowns and a field goal, but an Alex Caurdy 7-yard
run early in the third quarter that gave Rockford a 28-3 advantage
was too big of a cushion for the Titans come back from.
"We've been down a lot before only to come back and win
some big games this year," Prisk said. "There is no
quit in these kids."
Munger was extremely happy with how his team played, considering
the emotional week the whole Rockford family went through.
Former Rams player David Kohl lost his battle with leukemia
earlier in the week, and before the game, the large crowd at
Ted Carlson Memorial Stadium stood in a moment of silence for
the fallen Rockford junior.
"For us to do what we did with
the week we had was pretty remarkable," Munger said.
