Rockford Rams 47. Holt Rams 00

Rockford spreads ball around, scores 7 touchdowns in 47-0 rout of Holt

By Cory Olsen | colsen@mlive.com on September 03, 2015

ROCKFORD, MI — The Rockford Rams tallied up seven touchdowns in an impressive Thursday evening rout of the Holt Rams 47-0. Rockford spread the ball out to five players for scores: Hunter Novak (two touchdowns), Brendan McKeller (two touchdowns), Cole Shuple (4-yard touchdown run), Tyler Bradfield (touchdown catch) and Nick Isley (49-yard touchdown).

Rockford coach Ralph Munger, who now has 299 career victories, said the lack of a single standout at running back is an easy trade for a whole crew of able runners.

“I’m happy to have a stable because we want to play an extended season, we want to play long,” Munger said. “Twenty carries add up fast each game; the next thing you know you’ve got a kid with an ankle or a little shoulder (issue).

“If you can limit the carries to five or maybe 10, then if some kid gets hot he maybe gets 12. I’ve always been that way.” That variety keeps players ready for action according to Bradfield, a senior who plays both running back and defensive back.

“It keeps you fresh and then you just get to maximize when you do get the ball,” Bradfield said. “If everyone contributes, everyone’s happy and that’s all that matters to us that we get the win.”

Kicker Quinn Nordin hit five of seven extra-point tries. After a tough 37-24 loss last week to Saline, Munger was mostly pleased with his team’s performance.

“It’s two weeks in a row that I’m very pleased with the effort,” Munger said. “We competed tonight and in many cases I liked the execution. We’re growing, we’re learning.”

Next week, the Rams travel north to play Mona Shores, which is 2-0 and was Division 2 state runner-up last season.