Rockford football makes playoffs for 21st straight time with 28-27 victory over Hudsonville
By By Zach Kukkonen | grsports@mlive.com
ROCKFORD, MI -- An hour and a half before Friday's matchup with Hudsonville to decide a share of the OK Red Conference title, Rockford senior running back Tyler Bradfield received some startling news. He would play quarterback for the most important game of the Rams' season.
Bradfield didn't waver, as he managed the offense, rushed for 60 yards and blocked a pivotal extra point to lead the Rams (6-3 overall, 4-1 OK Red) into the playoffs with a 28-27 victory against the Eagles.
"I just tried to maintain composure," Bradfield said about learning he'd play quarterback due to an injury to the starter. "I just sat down, took a deep breath, looked over the play chart to make sure I knew what I was doing from the quarterback's perspective, and I tried to execute it as best I could."
The Rams needed every point and every yard against a Hudsonville team sparked by the return of quarterback Jack Mandryk, who ran for 160 yards and three scores. Down only one with a minute to go, Hudsonville had the ball on the Rockford 35 with a fourth-and-2, but the Rams' Marcus Remtema picked off a Mandryk pass to seal the victory.
Hudsonville took a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter on the back of Mandryk and running back Dalton Agers, but that's when Rockford running back Nick Isley took over. Isley ripped off scoring runs of 52 and 64 yards in the first half to keep the Rams in a game that was in danger of slipping away early.
"Everyone gave absolutely anything and everything they had," Bradfield said. "We sold out for this game, we wanted it."
The unsung hero of the game may have been lineman-turned-kicker Sam Corey, who has taken over both punting and kicking duties after Penn State commit Quinn Nordin went down with an injury against Caledonia earlier this year. Corey pinned the Eagles on their own 1 in the third quarter, which eventually turned into a safety, and nailed a pair of field goals as well.
"Sam was marvelous," Rockford coach Ralph Munger said. "He's had a little bit of a rough go at it at times, but he overcame that adversity and you can't say enough good things about all those guys."
With the victory, the Rams clinched a playoff spot for the 21st straight season, a streak that could have gone by the wayside if not for Bradfield stepping into Jason Whittaker's shoes. Bradfield may have come out nervous early, throwing an interception on his first pass, but he settled down and led the Rams to a share of the OK Red title once again.
"Him stepping in at quarterback tonight at 5:25 when I spoke with him tells you exactly what type of young man he is, what type of competitor he is," Munger said. "He is beyond special."
