Running away with another league title

Cedar Grove-Belgium High School’s football team checked off two more season-long goals in the homecoming game Friday night.

The Rockets blew out Random Lake, 42-7, to win their second consecutive Big East Conference title, and they eclipsed 400 yards rushing for the first time this year.

Quarterback Michael Navis used his speed to rush for 205 yards and three scores on nine carries — an average of 22.8 yards per rush.

“It looked like he had a turbo button on Friday night. He got around the edge a couple of times and he was gone,” coach Dan Schreurs said.

Running back Chris Jentges had 112 yards rushing and a touchdown on 11 carries. Alex Acevedo had 59 yards and two scores on 12 runs.

Schreurs said he wasn’t sure where the 423 yards ranks in school history, given the tradition of standout backs in the program.

He definitely knew, however, his team was ready to play, despite the typical distractions of homecoming. One week after falling behind, 21-0, at Hilbert, the Rockets flipped the script.

“We reminded them Monday night this is a warm-up for the playoffs. We have to come out strong, we have to come out clicking on all cylinders,” Schreurs said.

“You could kind of see it all week in practice, they were in tune a little bit.”

The Rockets got off to a fast start. The Rams won the toss, took the ball and were promptly stuffed by the Rockets’ defense.

Acevedo, Navis and Jentges each scored in the first quarter, and the Rockets put up 21 more points in the second to put the game away early.

Schreurs credited the offensive line with playing a much improved game from the Hilbert overtime victory.

“We kind of challenged them last week. They were making simple mistakes that needed to be fixed,” Schreurs said.

The Rams, who would have qualified for the playoffs with a victory, managed a second-quarter touchdown but were held to 88 yards rushing on 27 carries and a total of less than 150 yards of offense.

Inside linebacker Ben Anzia battled through the flu to make 10 tackles, and defensive end Chris Daniels made eight.

“They didn’t run his direction all that much. He came across line and made tackles in backfield,” Schreurs said.

With an 8-1 overall record, the Rockets earned a No. 2 seed in the Division 5 playoffs in a sectional that, if it was a baked potato, would include shredded cheese, butter, sour cream, chili, broccoli, onions, peppers, bacon and chives.

The Rockets host one of the two Big East teams it didn’t play this season, No. 7-seeded Howards Grove (6-3). The winner faces the winner of the No. 6-seeded New Holsten and No. 3-seeded and three-time defending state champion Amherst — the team that beat the Rockets, 38-35, on a controversial call in 2016. The bracket’s No. 1 seed is St. Mary’s Springs, which has seven Division 6 state titles since 2002, including gold balls in 2014, 2015 and last year. The Rockets’ only loss this season is to Springs, a 28-0 defeat.

Also in the bracket is regular Division 4 team Omro, whose only loss is to Springs, and Valders, which the Rockets beat in level 3 last season.

The Rockets add their own level of brutality to the loaded sectional. They are making their 16th straight appearance in the playoffs, one of the longest active streaks in the state.

“When I first saw it, I was shocked,” Schreurs said of the bracket.

“I consider it to be an honor to be in a loaded bracket like that. I beg to differ to say that the state champion isn’t coming out of our bracket.”

Schreurs said he has scouted many conference opponents this season in games against Howards Grove, so he is already familiar with the Tigers. Friday’s game begins at 7 p.m.