Timely mistakes ruin the Rockets at Mayville

The bad didn’t entirely outweigh the good, but it did enough to cancel impressive plays in the Cedar Grove-Belgium High School football team’s 23-0 defeat at defending Division 5 state champion Mayville last Friday.

“Typical Mayville. They’re stout all the way around. They don’t make mistakes. You’ve got to play near perfect football to play with them, and we didn’t,” coach Dan Schreurs said.

The Rockets’ defense stuffed the Cardinals multiple times in the first half, and the offense nearly took advantage. A 15-yard run to Mayville’s 30-yard line was called back due to a holding penalty, and the Rockets ended up punting.

They drove to the 12-yard line in the second quarter, and on fourth and 5 had a field goal blocked. Mayville returned it for a touchdown, but a penalty called it back. They still drove down and scored, taking a 14-0 lead into halftime.

In the second half, Schreurs said his team dropped an interception and couldn’t cover a Cardinals’ muffed punt before it rolled into the end zone, which by rule makes it a dead ball.

A 25-yard-plus pass play was called back for holding. The Rockets had nine penalties for around 70 yards.

Multi-talented senior Griffin Knight moved the ball on the ground and through the air.

“He had some really nice runs on the outside and had a couple of nice catches,” Schreurs said.

Junior Evan Halleman made his second start at quarterback and held his own, he said.

“We couldn’t be happier with Evan,” he said.

“We spread the ball around decently. Those penalties just killed us. We always talk about how we’re going to celebrate four yards.”

The Rockets had 10 plays of seven or more yards, six of four to seven yards, several of three yards and five or six for losses.

Running back Austin Knapp ran well, and national champion weightlifter Alex Geib reached the goal of four yards per carry on a few rushes, Schreurs said.

On defense, linebacker Josh Anzia “was lights out,” and R.J. Griffin had a sack, he said. Nolan Anzia and Noah Teunissen got penetration.

Mayville only threw two passes and completed one for 22 yards. They rushed 46 times for 177 yards. The Rockets held them to 3.8 yards per carry.

The officials, Schreurs said, complimented the teams on the hard hitting. Players often helped pick opponents up after plays.

“Mayville is a class-act program. It was a physical, clean game,” he said.

Mayville is the first of four top teams the Rockets play to start the season. On Friday, Aug. 28, defending Division 7 champion Kenosha St. Joseph comes to Cedar Grove. The Lancers beat Shoreland Lutheran, 20-7, last Thursday. Then the Rockets play at defending Big East Conference champ Manitowoc Lutheran. Those three opponents last year went a combined 40-1.

On Sept. 11 the Rockets host Hilbert, which is regularly ranked in the top 10 in its division.

“Iron sharpens iron. We could play cupcake teams and blow them out by 50, but that doesn’t get us any better,” Schreurs said.