Rams reach the 50-point mark for third consecutive week
DON VANDERVEEN | Advance Newspapers, October 18, 2010 1:07 a.m.
ROCKFORD – Rockford football coach Ralph Munger has seen
his team get better than halfway to a hundred for three consecutive
games and still has a few offensive tricks he’s waiting
to break out.
The Rams celebrated Friday’s Homecoming with a 56-0 O-K
Red Conference shutout over Grandville.
It was the third straight game that Rockford put 50-plus points
on the scoreboard following high-scoring victories over Muskegon
(52-44) and East Kentwood (53-7).
"Our guys are understanding the concepts we are trying
to utilize and gaining ground schematically," Munger said. "We
have a lot of offense and a lot of packages, and I still haven’t
been able to get to page two of the playbook.
"We’re trying to branch out a little and open up
the playbook a touch, but you have to be smart and not out coach
yourself and we’re not going to run up the score intentionally
by any means. We can change gears if we need to, no question."
With this week’s regular-season finale at
Hudsonville and the postseason looming ahead, the 7-1 Rams – who
are in a three-way tie atop of the O-K Red Conference standings
with Muskegon and Grand Haven – will have a lot of opportunities
to get to the next page if they need to.
Wearing their bright
orange jerseys for Friday’s Homecoming
game, the Rams were as dominant on both sides of the ball as
they have been all season.
Rockford quarterback Mark LaPrairie completed 8-of-10 passes
for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Zach Schmuck rushed
for 87 yards on 12 carries, including three touchdowns on runs
of nine, four and 11 yards. Wide receiver Neil VanderLaan caught
seven passes for 104 yards and a touchdown.
Brandon Lubenow, Trevor Alferink, Nate Sanders and Spencer Sims
also scored touchdowns for the Rams, while place kicker Steven
Mette successfully converted all eight of his extra-point attempts.
"Tonight, it was very complete from an execution standpoint," Munger
said. "It was extremely impressive from where we were standing
on the sidelines.
"I couldn’t be happier."
Defensively, Rockford forced five turnovers with
Nate Schuiteman and Shain Showers recovering fumbles, and Anthony
DeDamos, KC Zenner and Andy Cunningham coming up with interceptions.
"They’re very good," said Grandville coach Scott
Shaw, whose team slipped to 1-5 in the O-K Red and 2-6 overall. "They
throw, they run well, they kick well and have everything it takes
to be good."
Things started well enough for the Bulldogs when
Grandville’s Cody Meyer recovered on onside kick to open the game.
Grandville’s Dean DeVries broke off a 15-yard run on his
first carry before the Rockford defense came to life and forced
the Bulldogs to punt.
Rockford immediately went to the air to get the show rolling.
LaPrairie completed all four of his passes for 66 yards, including
a 35-yard touchdown to Lubenow, and the rout was on. It was 21-0
after one quarter and 28-0 after the first play of the second
quarter when LaPrairie hooked up with VanderLaan for a 26-yard
touchdown.
Alferink’s one-yard touchdown run in the final two minutes
of the second quarter made it 35-0 and turned the running clock
on for the entire second half.
"We struggled defensively," Shaw said. "We didn’t
match up well size-wise, speed-wise and strength-wise."
Images
courtesy of Michigan Helmet Project
