Rockford's run comes to an end
By Greg Johnson / The Grand Rapids Press
HOLT -- Rockford rallied,
but then Holt did, too.
Rockford's three-year run of visits to the Division 1 state
championship game came to a halt in a 35-28 district final loss
at Holt on Friday.
The Rams (9-2) rallied from a 13-point deficit at halftime to
take a 28-20 lead, but Holt scored two touchdowns and a two-point
conversion in the final nine minutes.
Holt (11-0), which was ranked in a tie with Rockford for No.
2 in the Division 1 final poll, advances to regional play to
meet Detroit Catholic Central (9-2). Holt also avenged a 47-6
loss to Rockford in last year's district final.
"We just needed some more plays, but obviously we didn't
play well enough long enough, and they did," said Rockford
coach Ralph Munger. "The credit goes to them. Hopefully,
we regroup and make a run again next year."
Holt was led by Michael Hollern, a senior quarterback who passed
for 205 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 66 yards and
a touchdown. He was 14-24 passing, and hit wide receiver Cody
Nash-Kniffen six times for 78 yards.
"We knew they were going to throw, but we had great confidence
that we could defend it," Munger said. "We had two
guys often time by their one who was catching the ball. They
made the plays. Credit goes to them."
Nash Kniffen also had a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown
in the first half on a pass that bounced off a Rockford receiver.
That score put Holt up 12-7.
"That was a critical play, but there were a lot of big
plays," Munger said. "They made more of them."
Holt coach Mike Smith said he wasn't surprised his team avenged
last year's loss, or that they had a comeback in them to answer
the rally by Rockford.
"The only surprise is that we keep having different guys
come in and just play great," he said. "It was phenomenal.
We played great football against some very good people."
Smith said Hollern may have played his best game of the year.
"Last week was pretty good, too," he said. "He
just keeps getting better and better."
Aaron Kwekel and Brian Twiest each scored two touchdowns for
Rockford. The Rams final drive ended at the Holt 20-yard line
on downs with 16 seconds remaining.
Hollern tied the game at 28-all with 7:28 remaining on a 16-yard
pass and a two-point conversion pass to Tom Bradenburg. Then
he ran in the final score with 2:02 remaining from 11 yards out.
