No. 1 Rockford stuns Muskegon with last-minute TD pass
Mike Mattson | The Muskegon Chronicle
MUSKEGON -- Rockford needed something to help turn back a Muskegon
upset Friday night at Hackley Stadium.
Enter Neil VanderLaan, who blocked a fourth-quarter punt that
propelled Rockford to two touchdowns in the last 5:42 as the
Rams escaped with a 16-13 O-K Red Conference victory.
"Any time you block a punt it changes the game -- no question," Rockford
coach Ralph Munger said. "Fortunately, it happened in our
favor. That was the spark. Once we got things rolling, we made
some things happen fast."
The dramatic win -- matching two defending state champs in the
2009 Great American Rivalry Series sponsored by the Air Force
-- improves No. 1 Rockford to 7-0 and 5-0 in the league. Muskegon,
the defending Division 2 state champion, slips to 4-3 and 2-3.
Muskegon controlled the game for three-and-half quarters, but
the Rams' late surge resulted in the Big Reds' third loss by
a combined seven points.
"My heart hurts for these kids because they are so resilient,
even though we lost," a dejected Muskegon coach Matt Koziak
said. "A stop here or a first down there, and we could have
controlled the game at the end. Unfortunately, it didn't work
out."
Muskegon led 13-3 and a big vocal home crowd smelled an upset.
But Darby came through the line and blocked Ryan Mayo's punt
and the Rams took over on Muskegon's 24-yard line. Two plays
later, Rockford quarterback Taylor Masiewicz hit Neil VanderLaan
on a slant play for a 19-yard touchdown pass. The PAT attempt
hit the left upright and Muskegon led 13-9 with 5:31 remaining.
The Big Reds were stopped on three rushing plays and were forced
to punt, giving Rockford the ball on Muskegon's 45-yard line
at the 3:43 mark.
The Rams generated two rushing first downs, then converted a
fourth-and-one for another first down on Darby's run off the
left side with 24 seconds remaining.
On the next play, Masiewicz connected on another slant play
and a 9-yard touchdown pass to Zach Haugen to put the Rams ahead
for the first time. Mudgett's kick made it 16-13 with 14 seconds
left.
Muskegon had one last chance after Greg Wickliffe's big kickoff
return gave the Big Reds the ball on Rockford's 41-yard line
with three seconds left. But Keyes was sacked on the final play,
setting off a wild Rockford celebration and another bitter loss
for the Big Reds.
"They got the momentum and we made some key mistakes," said
Muskegon's JeVante Hunter, who caught a touchdown pass and made
an interception. "We didn't get any breaks. The effort was
there. We have to keep fighting now and make the playoffs."
Both defenses shined and the offenses struggled to score in
the rainy wet conditions.
Muskegon led 6-0 when Keyes broke about three tackles and sprinted
70 yards midway through the second quarter.
Rockford, the defending Division 1 state champion, answered
with a 43-yard field goal from kicker Paul Mudgett to pull the
Rams within 6-3 at halftime.
At halftime, Muskegon honored its 1989 state championship team,
and the Big Reds came out fired up in the third quarter.
Muskegon forced a punt right away and then responded with an
impressive 10-play, 76-yard scoring drive. Keyes tossed a 15-yard
TD pass to Hunter, who had one-on-one coverage in the end zone,
and the Big Reds led 13-3 at the 6:22 mark.
But the fourth quarter belonged to Rockford, especially after
the blocked punt.
"It was huge," Masiewicz said about the blocked punt. "Our
special teams always come through."
Muskegon's spread veer offense was impressive as it didn't fumble
all night.
The Big Reds totaled 267 yards while rushing 53 times for 239
yards. Fullback Erran Briggs came up big, piling up 185 yards
on 22 carries and taking hits from Rockford linebackers Joe Stefanski
and Brett Egnatuk.
Keyes also carried 18 times for 111 yards and completed 3-of-8
passes for 28 yards.
Masiewicz completed 7-of-11 passes for 67 yards and the Rams
rushed 39 times for 118 yards. Darby led Rockford with 95 yards
on 16 carries.
Muskegon hosts Jenison Friday and travels to West Ottawa in
the regular-season finale. The Big Reds need to win both games
for six wins and an automatic playoff berth.
"Our playoffs are right now," Koziak said. "We
have to compete."
Images
courtesy of Michigan Helmet Project
