“FROM THE
HUDDLE”
BY COACH
BRIAN WALKER
The Falcons had a happy Homecoming victory last Friday night as RRC held on to beat BLH 21-18. The Falcons dominated play for the first three quarters to lead 21-0, only to see the Mustangs score three touchdowns in the final 9 minutes of the game to pull within 3 points. RRC’s defense set the tone early with a big goal line stand on BLH’s first possession. The Mustangs had first and goal at the 6, and on 4th and 5, Zach Siemer chased down their QB for a 15 yd loss to turn the ball over to the Falcons. From there, RRC marched the ball 80 yds in 15 plays to score on a 2 yd run by Dylan Bunting. Josh Mason kicked the first of three PAT kicks which turned out to be the difference in the game. Also, following the Falcons first TD, BLH was about to return the kick for a touchdown to tie the game, when Josh Mason, our kicker, made a touchdown saving tackle keeping the shutout in tact. RRC took advantage of a Mustang fumble late in the first half as George Rogotzke picked up the fumble. Then he would finish it with a touchdown on a 15 yd pass from Dylan Bunting. Mason’s kick made it 14-0 with just 52 seconds left in the half. At the half, we felt good about what we were doing, and we came out in the third quarter and took the opening drive 72 yds in 12 plays as Bunting hit George Rogotzke for the TD, and with Josh Mason’s kick the Falcons ran the lead to 21-0 with 6 minutes left in the third quarter. After RRC’s defense held, we got the ball back, but decided to go for a 4th and inches and they held us. From there, they marched 44 yds in 13 plays to score with 9:07 left in the game. They missed the two point conversion to make the score 21-6. Three plays later, we threw an interception, and BLH found the endzone on the very next play on a 30 yd pass play. Once again, we held them out on the all important two point conversion to remain ahead by 2 scores at 21-12. BLH would force a punt, but our defense would make a stand and hold to get the ball back. We then rushed the ball down to the 1 yd line, only to be held out with 35 seconds left in the game. BLH would then hook up on their third play on a 72 yd TD pass as the time was expiring to pull the final to within 21-18. It all came down to those PAT kicks which we always talk about as being really important, tonight, they won the game for us. For the game, the Falcons rushed for 165 yds, with Jake Fredrickson running hard for 118 yds in 24 carries. Zach Siemer added 33 yds in 9 tries. Dylan Bunting would add 143 yds through the air by hitting 10 of 18 passes. George Rogotzke hauled in 5 passes for 44 yds and 2 scores. Tyler Erickson added 3 for 41 yds, Jake Fredrickson caught one for 39 yds, and Nick Derickson had 1 for 19 yds which was a key catch to give us a much needed first down late in the game. On defense, linebackers, Nate Mattison and Ray Hagberg each had 14 tackles. George Rogotzke and Zach Siemer each had fumble recoveries. Dillon Imker had 7 tackles along with Siemer’s 7. Zach Siemer and Aaron Furth each had sacks for the defense.
It was a game that had us build a big lead, and
then having BLH gain momentum and come back to make it too close for comfort.
We had an opportunity to make it 28-12 in the final minute, only to get held
out, and we didn’t tackle on the final play of the game allowing them another
score. We need to do a better job of taking care of those opportunities
and put the team away when we had the chance. This week we play MLBO in
Lamberton on Wednesday night, and then follow that up with the final regular
season game at Springfield on Tuesday the 20th. Playoffs will
start on Tuesday the 27th of October with the Falcons still hoping
for a first round home game. As of now, RRC is battling MCC for the #4 or
#5 spot with the higher seed getting the home field in the first round. We
wanted to get a home game in the first round, so in order to do that, we must
win to assure that. Let’s keep the great fan support and cheer this team
to another victory. GO FALCONS!!