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Pearson, Metter Lead Rockets To Playoff Victory
 RAPID RIVER---On one hand, the Rapid River Rockets football players, coaches, and fans were all happy and excited. But on the other hand, they were also worried and somber.  But midway through the fourth quarter, Rockets reciever/running back Eli Orth was crushed by three defenders on a running play. His head snapped back, and he lay motionless on the ground. For 20 long minutes, the stadium went silent as paramedics worked on stabalizing Orth's body, eventually putting him on a immobilizing board and carrying him to an emergency vehicle almost 100 yards away. And after that, the teams had to try to refocus on football. The Rockets managed to salt away the victory by making several big plays in the final 5:42, including a trick play that led to a scramble in the end zone for a loose ball. But even after the exciting playoff win, everyone was thinking about Orth. "He doesn't have a break, ever," Rockets Coach Steve Ostrenga said. "He's a quality young man, and he's had a lot of adversity in his life. He's always coming back. He did the splits in basketball his sophomore year and ripped the muscles in his pelvic area, and he came back. He's had a broken arm, and he's struggled with his hip. He's a gamer."  "It's heartbreaking," Rockets junior Jake Pearson said. "He's been through so much in his high school career. It's sad. We were just praying for him and hoping for the best." At the time of Orth's injury, Rapid River was clinging to a 38-34 lead and the Cougars had the momentum after scoring a pair of quick touchdowns. And the Rockets faced a 3rd and 12 play at their own 27 yard-line, in desperate need of something positive. That's when Metter came through. Pearson tossed one in his direction, with three Cougars surrounding him. 
Robert Metter Interview.
"I was like 'I've got to do this for Eli'," Metter said. "They were trying to strip it and I just kept my feet going. I was like 'you guys aren't getting this ball. You took out one of my players, but you aren't getting this ball'."  Metter himself was injured right before halftime, tweaking his knee and needing help to come off the field. Ostrenga checked him at halftime, and Metter was able to go in the final 24 minutes. And a good thing, too, because he was needed on that play. Rapid River then got another clutch play on fourth and three as Pearson scrambled for a five-yard gain to get a first down at the Cougar 24. Then Rapid River started to play the "run out the clock" game by keeping the ball on the ground. That strategy drained away Superior Central's last time outs, but there were still 30 seconds left when the Rockets faced another fourth down play. So, what, have Pearson scramble around a bit, and then throw a bomb out of the back of the end zone to kill time? Nope. Let's throw it to Chris Morgan. WHAT??!!?? Chris Morgan, as in #51 Chris Morgan? The guard Chris Morgan? Yep.
Chris Morgan Clinching Catch Replay
The ball plunged into the end zone, and it there were so many men going for the loose ball that it looked like an 11-man football game.  "That call, it was Coach (Paul) Brunngraeber for ya," Ostrenga said. "Both of our guards can run that pattern. It was wide open, 'Pears threw a nice pass, and congratulations to Chris for getting the ball." Then, Ostrenga added with a chuckle: "I kind of wish he would have kneeled down (short of the end zone). When I saw the ball pop out, I was like 'oh oh oh boy!'" So, with the win at hand, the team's thoughts turned back to Orth. Rapid River Athletic Director Rick Pepin reported after the game that Orth was able to have feeling in his hands and legs, but was suffering from pain at "the base of his neck". After those long minutes with Orth lying there, how did Ostrenga rally the troops? "I just told the guys that we needed to take a moment of silence for Eli," Ostrenga said. "We were shook up. But hats off to the guys for pulling out the win."  But the Rockets scored the next three touchdowns on three-yard runs by Pearson and Luke Bero, and on a sensational touchdown catch by Metter. It was on fourth and five from the Cougar 8 when Pearson lofted it into the corner of the end zone. Metter jumped up and caught it with his fingertips, landing barely in-bounds. "I knew that Pearson could throw it in there, so I just went up and got it," Metter said. "I looked where I was, and made sure I got my toes down (in bounds). Just by a couple of inches. "And it (the ball) was on like the last half inch of my fingers."  
Robert Metter TD Catch
The two-point pass made it a 22-14 game at the half. In the third quarter, the Rockets scored twice on short touchdown runs by Pearson, sandwiched around a 75-yard touchdown run by the Cougars' Maki. Going into the fourth quarter, Rapid River led, 38-20, and it looked like "lights out" for SC.
Trevor Maki 75-yard TD Replay
Then, after a Rocket three-and-out, Maki found Richard for a 38-yard touchdown pass. It was 38-34 at that point, and the Cougars had the momentum, especially when Orth got hurt and the Rockets faced third and long. But the boys in purple came through.  "It's all on the linemen right there," the always-humble Pearson said after the game. "They did a great job of blocking for us." "I'm embarrassed that he had 47 carries," Ostrenga said. "I wanted to throw the ball, but the guys were blocking well and he was getting five, six, eight yards." Bero had 42 yards on 12 carries, Orth added 38 yards on four touches, and Dominique gained 21 yards on three carries. For Superior Central, Maki ended a great career by completing 9-of-25 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted three times, all by Metter. Maki also rushed for 102 yards on seven carries and scored a rushing touchdown. Rapid River (8-2) will travel to Cedarville to face the state's top-ranked team in the regional final next weekend. The Trojans are 10-0 after beating Engadine, 19-6, in a playoff game Friday night. Cedarville beat Rapid River, 72-12, earlier this season. The championship game is tenatively scheduled for 7:00 next Friday night, pending confirmation by both teams. The game will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5), WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com. Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box to see even more photos, videos, and listen to audio highlights and interviews.  |
| Date | Time | Opponent | Score | Record |
8/24 |
7:00 PM |
at Brimley Bays
|
38 - 8 (W)
|
1-0
|
8/31 |
4:00 PM |
Bellaire Eagles
|
27 - 10 (W)
|
2-0
|
9/6 |
4:00 PM |
Posen Vikings
|
61 - 40 (W)
|
3-0
|
9/14 |
7:00 PM |
at Mid Peninsula Wolverines
|
52 - 0 (W)
|
4-0
|
9/22 |
3:00 PM |
Cedarville Trojans
|
12 - 42 (L)
|
4-1
|
10/6 |
3:00 PM |
Rapid River Rockets
|
27 - 30 (L)
|
4-2
|
10/12 |
7:00 PM |
at Engadine Eagles
|
42 - 32 (W)
|
5-2
|
10/19 |
7:00 PM |
at Ewen-Trout Creek Panthers
|
47 - 22 (W)
|
6-2
|
10/26 |
7:00 PM |
at Rapid River Rockets
|
34 - 44 (L)
|
6-3
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