Big plays go the Rockets’ way in win over RLO

The 21-0 final was not indicative of how close the game was in the Cedar Grove-Belgium High School football team’s homecoming win over Random Lake/Ozaukee last Friday.

But when it came to game-changing plays, the Rockets had the advantage.

“It feels really good. Last year we had a rough game for homecoming. This year it feels good to have a win and celebrate,” senior Austin Knapp said.

“It’s great, awesome, coming from last year’s homecoming against Columbus (a 42-0 loss),” senior Griffin Knight said.

The Bison nearly scored in the first half, but a long pass from Jeffrey Stefanich to Chase Meloy was about half a yard too long and the ball slid off Meloy’s outstretched fingertips. He only had turf in front of him and could have scored an 80-yard touchdown.

Cedar Grove-Belgium broke the ice with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Evan Halleman to Knight with 38 seconds left in the first half. The score capped a 10-play, 55-yard drive that took five minutes.

On the first possession of the third quarter, Cooper Arndt, who had blocked the Rockets’ first extra point, forced a fumble and Drew Keller jumped on it at the Bison 43-yard line. The Bison were in business, but the drive stalled at the Rockets’ 41-yard line.

They tried a fake punt on fourth and 13, but Josh Anzia read the play, stepped in front of the tight end, picked it off and returned it to the Bison 28-yard-line.

Five plays later, Halleman hit Austin Hopeman for a six-yard touchdown, and Halleman ran in the two-point conversion.

The final clutch plays came in the form of a goal-line stand in the fourth quarter. Murphy Brown made his second interception of the season on a pass deflected at the line, and the Bison drove 54 yards to the Rockets’ 3-yard line, trailing 14-0 early in the quarter.

Jeffrey Stefanich’s sneak up the middle was stuffed for a one-yard gain. Anzia then tackled Jack Upson for a two-yard loss, and quarterback Stefanich was smothered again on third down.

On fourth and goal from the 7, the Rockets got pressure on Stefanich and forced an incomplete pass.

Rockets’ coach Dan Schreurs credited Anzia for that stop.

“Anzia called the set on that. He saw something and made an awesome call,” he said.

“That’s what finished the game, basically,” Knight said. “That was huge.”

Knapp said, “The defense is just outstanding. Everybody does their job.”

The Rockets’ offense quickly got them out of the shadow of their end zone. Knapp found room on the outside, and on the seventh play of the drive he scored on a seven-yard run. He ran for 85 yards on the drive.

It was 21-0 with six minutes to play, and the Bison couldn’t come back.

“The defense from last week to this week really improved. We started out hot,” Stefanich said. “The offense was just a little slow. We just weren’t that consistent.”

Large pointed to the missed chances.

“A few opportunities we didn’t capitalize on, and at the end of the day you’ve got to make those plays in games like this,” he said.

Large said he tried the fake punt because the Rockets were getting so much pressure on the punter.

“You kinda gotta go after it a little bit at times,” he said.

Schreurs said Ozaukee is notorious for a fake punt or onside kick, and his team practiced against it during the week, albeit with a smaller squad. Multiple injuries and illnesses had 30 of 44 players available on Thursday.

Large said his team hung in there.

“We’re battling, but that’s not enough for our guys. They’re hurtin’ pretty bad right now. That’s one they wanted,” he said. “That’s a good thing it’s not enough. Nobody’s satisfied.”

Schreurs said his offense poked and prodded in the first half before making some second-half adjustments to open up some holes.

The Rockets, 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big East, play at Mishicot (0-6) on Saturday, Oct. 3. The Bison, 3-3 overall and 1-3 in the Big East, are at Howards Grove (2-4) on Thursday, Oct. 1.