Ryan Darby scores three touchdowns as Rockford thumps Holt
Jeff Chaney | The Grand Rapids Press
ROCKFORD -- Ryan Darby says he's faster on his team's new turf.
The Rockford senior running back
showed visiting Holt how fast he is, running for three touchdowns
in Rockford's 34-10 win Thursday night at the remodeled Ted Carlson
Memorial Stadium, which has FieldTurf.
"It's different, but I do feel faster, and a lot of the
guys on the team say they feel faster on this," Darby said. "It's
great to break this place in with a win."
Darby rushed for 96 yards on eight carries. He did most of his
damage in the second half with scoring runs of 54 and 16 yards
to break Rockford's one-touchdown lead late in the third quarter
into a 31-10 advantage early in the fourth.
"There were some coaching adjustments, but mostly our offensive
line got together and said, 'Let's get this job done,' " Darby
said. "(The offensive line) probably had their best practice
this week, and the holes were there. In all, we had an offensive
game plan and we executed it."
Rockford (2-0) had two turnovers and several illegal procedure
penalties that caught the eye of coach Ralph Munger.
"Winning is difficult, and anytime you can get a win, that's
important, no matter what it looks like," said Munger, whose
team heads into O-K Red Conference action next week at home against
rival Hudsonville. "It was sloppy, but we made enough big
plays to satisfy the scoreboard."
Rockford, which returned only three returning starters from
last year's Division 1 state championship team, might be a work
in progress, but it still has playmakers.
Junior running back Zach Schmuck ran for 61 yards and a touchdown,
and senior quarterback Taylor Masiewicz competed 9-of-10 passes
for 144 yards. He threw one interception.
Rockford's Paul Mudgett kicked field goals of 20 and 43 yards.
Holt senior quartderback Jordan Beachnau threw for 104 yards
and a touchdown. He rushed for 109 yards.
"I'm disappointed but not discouraged, because our kids
played hard all the way to the end," said Holt coach Al
Slamer, whose team fell to 1-1. "We made way too many mistakes
to win a game like this at their home field. Rockford out-executed
us, and it showed on the scoreboard."
