October 2022 Volume 5, Issue 2
Friday Night Football – Rockets Shut Out for Eighth Straight Loss as Hawks Rush for the Win
Penalties and strong rushing by the Hawks led to a complete shutout for the Rock Falls varsity team Friday, Oct. 14. The Rockets suffered their eighth straight loss of the season against the Oregon Hawks with a final score of 46-0.
The troubles began early for the Rockets. They failed to gain ground on their first possession resulting in a fourth down punt that was blocked and recovered by Oregon guard Jonathan Alaniz. After that, both teams were riddled with penalties as Rock Falls began to have difficulty keeping Oregon running back Gabe Eckerd from gaining ground.
Eckerd neared the end zone in a series of runs, but a fumble at the Rockets' 3-yard line kept Oregon from scoring, as the Rockets recovered the ball. However, this will be the last break the Rockets catch as they fail to gain ground and punt the ball away to a more committed and disciplined Oregon team.
Eckerd returns the punt for a 20-yard return and, in another impressive series of runs, scores the first touchdown of the game with 47 seconds left in the first quarter. Oregon fails the two-point conversion attempt but manages to keep Rock Falls from scoring in the first.
The second quarter does not start any better for Rock Falls as Oregon’s Noah Rebar rushes up the middle for a 6-yard TD run in the first three minutes of the quarter. The Rockets recover the kickoff at the 32-yard line, but two penalties cost Rock Falls precious yards before their quarterback is brought down in the backfield by Oregon’s Emmett Peterson.
Less than a minute later, the Hawks’ Hunter Bartel makes an airborne interception and tears off down the sideline for a stellar score. A successful two-point conversion and the score is now 22-0 with 8:50 left in the second quarter.
The Rockets try to find their footing with a flurry of successful short runs, but the Hawks' defense forces them to turn over on downs. After a false start penalty against the Rockets places the Hawks just 10 yards from the endzone, they hand off the ball to Eckerd, who easily slips in for the TD and two-point conversion. The score is now 38-0 with two minutes left in the first half.
Rock Falls returns the kickoff to the 37-yard line, but two penalties and a quarterback sack forced a failed pass attempt on the third down. The Rockets fumble the ball, and Oregon’s Reber makes an impressive 61-yard TD run with only six seconds on the clock. A quick pass for the two-point attempt leaves Oregon dominating 38-0.
The Hawks hammered the final nail in the Rockets’ coffin in the opening kick of the third quarter with a jaw-dropping 85-yard kickoff return by Keegan Diehl for the final touchdown of the game and cementing Oregon’s 46-0 victory over Rock Falls.
"We came out cocky and paid for it," Rockets' Michael Flowers said. "We should have played better than that."
In the end, the Rockets' many penalties contributed heavily to their loss. Rock Falls had a total of 10 penalties costing them 75 yards.
Meanwhile, Oregon’s Eckerd and Rebar weaved through the Rockets’ D-line for a combined total of 204 yards and four touchdowns.