Rockford Rams 42. Grand Haven Buccaneers 30

Special teams set tone in Rockford's win over Grand Haven
Cris Greer | The Grand Rapids Press, September 09, 2011 11:54 p.m.

ROCKFORD -- Two special teams touchdowns in the first quarter helped Rockford hold on to beat visiting Grand Haven 42-30 Friday.

Four minutes into thegame, Rockford junior K.C. Zenner raced 75 yards for a touchdown on a punt return to set the tone for the evening.

"We had some great blocks," Zenner said. "We’ve been working hard on it. We’re just trying to take it one game at a time."

Just a minute-and-a-half later, the Rams’ Andrew Cunningham blocked a punt that was picked up by Ryan Hartnagel for a 3-yard score, giving Rockford a 14-0 lead.

"Those were probably difference makers, quite honestly," said Rockford coach Ralph Munger, whose team improved to 2-1 overall. "I’m just glad it didn’t happen to us like Week 1 (a 28-7 loss to Lowell).

"I felt the line gave us a very good effort overall, and thought our backs ran really hard, too. Brady Gent did a great job tonight. He’s getting better every week, just like a number of our players are."

Gent rushed for 163 yards on 17 carries and three touchdowns, while Connor Darby added 127 yards on 16 carries and one touchdown.

Last year, though the teams shared the OK Red Conference title, Grand Haven beat Rockford 26-23, the only regular-season loss for the Rams.

"That was last year’s group with different kids, a different team and different year," Munger said. "We didn’t put a major, major emphasis on it. Why get wrapped up in something that’s past history?"

Dakota Smith, who led the Bucs with 92 yards on 25 carries and twotouchdowns, put the Bucs on the board with a 1-yard run with 5:21 left in the first quarter.

A 40-yard field goal by Alex Eidson cut Rockford’s lead to 14-10 at the end of the first quarter.

Gent scored from 36 yards out in the second quarter to give the Rams a 21-10 halftime lead.

Late in the third quarter, Grand Haven quarterback Scott Staal threw a 21-yard strike to Smith to cut the lead to 21-16 after a failed conversion. Staal kept the Bucs alive, completing 20-for-37 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns.

"They’re talented, aggressive and playing hard just like we are," said Munger, whose Rams scored again in the third to lead 29-16.
Grand Haven coach Mike Farley wasn’t happy with the special teams mistakes in the first quarter.

"When you play Rockford, you can’t spot them 14 points in the beginning of the game," said Farley, whose Bucs are 2-1 overall. "Special teams kind of hurt us early on. We were playing behind the rest of the game. Give Rockford credit, it’s obviously a great program.

"I felt like offensively we played a pretty good football game and feel like we’re a pretty good football team."