R
Despite risky fumbles, Rockford advances to semifinals
By Steve Vedder / The Grand Rapids Press
ROCKFORD -- At times, Rockford
was its own worst enemy. But the Rams still managed to beat Hartland.
The
Rams' defense played its best defensive game of the season and
earned a 24-8 win. About 7,000 fans attended Saturday's blustery
Division 1 regional final at Ted Carlson Memorial Stadium.
Although Rockford fumbled three times inside its own 43-yard
line and finished with four turnovers, the Rams defense put the
shackles on a potent Eagle offense. Hartland utilizes the spread
offense, which was averaging 32.3 points per game and had scored
at least 38 points four times this season.
The Rams had shut out only one team this season, and almost
earned another shutout against the Eagles. However, Hartland's
Matt Kenwell scored on a 4-yard run with 1:12 remaining for the
Eagles' only score.
Rockford surrendered 180 total yards to a Hartland offense that
had scored 55 points in its two playoff games.
"We played with a lot of heart," Rams' senior linebacker
and co-captain Chad VanderWest said. "We believe we can
do anything we put our minds to. You couldn't ask for anything
better."
The win sends Rockford (11-1) into next Saturday's 10:30 a.m.
semifinal against Livonia Stevenson at Michigan State. Hartland
finished the season 9-3.
Rockford coach Ralph Munger said the team's main goal was to
stop wide receiver Matt Poches, who finished with two catches
for 6 yards, and quarterback Chris Cagle, who completed 9-of-20
passes for 51 yards.
"Obviously, we played a solid game, other than the offense
shooting itself in the foot (with the turnovers)," Munger
said.
While the Rams' defense was virtually untouchable, the offense
managed a 10-0 halftime lead on a 45-yard run by Jordan Morren
with 7:48 remaining in the first quarter and a 20-yard field
goal by Paul Mudgett with 6:15 left in the half.
Morren added a 4-yard touchdown pass from Tim McGee in the third
quarter and a 2-yard touchdown with 9:15 left in the game, which
increased the Rams' lead to 24-0.
Morren finished with 111 yards on 15 carries and was critical
to the offense as starting running back Aaron Kwekel went out
with a leg injury on his first carry of the game. Kwekel sat
out for the rest of the matchup.
"(Kwekel is) a major part of what we've done," Munger
said. "But (stepping up) is what they're trained to do."
Rockford finished the game with 288 rushing yards, a testimony
to the team's depth at running back, Morren said.
"It's not even about me getting carries," he said. "Everyone
else just had to step it up and get it done. We've got a great
line and a great all-around team."
Hartland coach Marcus Dukes, whose team had been held to fewer
than two touchdowns only once this season, said the Rams defense
was as strong as advertised.
"Obviously they were," he said. "They're a good
team; physical. They're able to do things well defensively."
