Rockford rallies to beat Grand Haven a second time and grab
Division 1 district crown
Jeff Chaney | The Grand Rapids Press
Rockford's Taylor Huizenga, left, makes the game-winning
interception over Grand Haven's Alex Smith in a Division 1 district
final Friday night.
ROCKFORD
-- Lesson learned for Rockford's Taylor Huizenga.
With Grand Haven driving for a tying touchdown and less than
1 minute remaining, Buccaneers quarterback Adam Poel dropped
back and threw the ball up in the end zone.
Huizenga, a senior defensive back, jumped over Buccaneers wide
receiver Alec Smith and intercepted it, preserving the Rams'
14-7 Division 1 district championship victory against its O-K
Red Conference foe Friday night.
Rockford (11-0) will host Holt, a 34-0 winner against Howell,
at 1 p.m. next Saturday.
"I was just doing what I was taught to do there," Huizenga
said. "You're taught to back in to the receiver, and that's
what I did."
The Buccaneers twice tried for long touchdown passes on their
final drive, but Rockford coach Ralph Munger was not nervous.
"I felt good (about both the passes)," Munger said. "I
have confidence in our defense. I thought, defensively, we played
very well all game."
Grand Haven's defense also came to play.
For the second time this season, the Buccaneers kept Rockford
scoreless in the first half.
This time, Grand Haven held a 7-0 lead at the break, thanks
to a 14-yard touchdown run by junior running back Dalton Stenberg
midway through the first quarter.
The score capped an eight-play, 60-yard drive that started after
an interception by Grand Haven junior defensive back Erik Johnson.
Grand Haven held Rockford to 91 yards of offense through in
the first half.
Munger made adjustments, and the Rams responded.
Rockford's first scoring drive came late in the third quarter.
It was an eight-play, 36-yard drive from a wishbone formation.
The final two yards came from Nick Smythe's 2-yard plunge.
After forcing Grand Haven to turn the ball on its ensuing drive,
the Rams had an eight-play, 70-yard drive. Senior running back
Ryan Darby scored on a 5-yard touchdown run and gave Rockford
its first lead with just less than 5 minutes left in the game.
The Buccaneers (9-2) frantically marched down the field for
the potential tying touchdown, but Huizenga intercepted Poel's
pass.
"For our guys to hang around and then finally catch fire,
I could not be more proud," Munger said. "It's extremely
difficult (to beat a team twice in a season), especially teams
as talented at East Kentwood and Grand Haven," said Munger,
whose team beat Grand Haven 14-0 earlier. "You know everybody
and everybody knows you. It's too bad, but that's how it is."
Grand Haven coach Mike Farley and his Buccaneers were visibly
distraught after the loss.
The Buccaneers are 2-24 against conference rivals.
"You have to give coach Munger and Rockford credit," Farley
said. "They are a tremendous team, and this is why they
are where they are every year. But I'm proud of our effort tonight
and our whole team."
