Injuries continued to do damage to Reeths-Puffer's high hopes Friday night, as the Rockets had to shuffle players all over the place against defending state champion Muskegon, and the results were unfortunately predictable in a 47-7 Big Reds win.
The Rockets (2-5, 1-3 O-K Green Conference) had already rejiggered their lineup to move their top blocking back, Sage Secrest, to quarterback to account for Mason Darke's Achilles tendon injury and were playing Ethan Muskovin in place of Marvin Moore, who was hurt last week and unavailable Friday. To make matters worse, two-way starter Sam Hillin, who was playing blocking back and linebacker, got hurt early in the game too, and so did Muskovin.
"Because of those injuries, we had a difficult time being competitive," R-P coach Cody Kater said. "Some of that's on the coaches, and it's a learning moment for our entire program."
The Rocket defense held up admirably considering the circumstances. Despite the offense being hampered by those injuries and struggling to move the ball, R-P trailed only 7-0 after a quarter, and it took nearly halfway through the second quarter for Muskegon to find the end zone a second time.
However, eventually the dam broke and the Rockets were unable to plug all the holes they needed to.
"We were already pretty thin, and we were having to play guys out of position just to try to give ourselves a fighting chance to move the ball on the offensive side, and playing guys that have never had defensive reps," Kater said. "It was a perfect storm for us."
Muskegon led 26-0 at the half and took the second-half kickoff back for a touchdown, a backbreaking score. Later in the third, Secrest found the end zone to provide the Rockets' only score of the night.
Kater said the team will reassess its injuries and see what it has to work with next week before another very difficult test in rival Mona Shores, which beat Muskegon earlier this season. It's unknown what chances remain to make a playoff run, but the Rockets are focusing inward rather than worrying about that.
"We have to figure out a way to finish this season on a high-character note," Kater said. "We don't know if we have the opportunity to extend our own season just because of the playoff points and being on the outside looking in, but all the things we've talked about the last couple years, character driving the process and responding in the face of adversity, we'll continue to have opportunities like that in life and we just have to continue to prepare for them. Those are the conversations we're having, and we're going to continue to provide life lessons."
