A key miscue at the worst time doomed Reeths-Puffer Friday night against Forest Hills Northern, costing the Rockets a chance at overtime in a 21-19 O-K Green Conference decision.
R-P converted the tying two-point conversion with 4:52 to go in the game, but was called for ineligible player downfield on the play. A second opportunity came up short.
The Rockets (3-4, 1-3 O-K Green) were never able to get the ball back as the Huskies ran out the clock from there.
The pivotal penalty was just one of several miscues that reared their head for R-P, said coach Cody Kater.
"Someone told me, and I may be exaggerating, that it was 17 penalties (on us) to four," Kater said. "We also gave them some good field position on some other penalties that happened after the whistle. It felt like an uphill battle the entire night.
"We knew we had to win this game. We felt like we had a strong game plan and we knew that it would be a tight game. We knew we had to play well in all phases of the game."
For the most part, that happened; R-P didn't turn the ball over and had some success moving the ball while limiting the Huskies on defense. But untimely errors - like a punt attempt that went nowhere and resulted in FHN getting the ball on the Rockets' two-yard line - kept popping up.
"We're frustrated on our end trying to figure out how to beat this case, what feels like a disease, of these (mistakes),"Kater said. "We just have to find a way to coach through it, and our kids have to take ownership of improving their game."
Dre Sanders led the Rockets with 94 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Jamichael Williams had 67 yards receiving. Braylon Swain threw for 159 yards and a touchdown.
Jaichael Williams played well as a receiver," Kater said. "He had some big plays throughout the night, especially in the first half, that lit a fire under the team."
The Rockets now must win both their remaining games to make the playoffs, a preseason goal of the team's. They would likely need some help from other results to gain playoff points as well.
"We have to pick up the pieces now and in a way to execute starting at Monday's practice," Kater said. "We want to finish out on a strong note and overcome the adversity and stay in the fight. That's what we're thinking about going forward."
