Rapid River Looks For Another Long Playoff Run

RAPID RIVER---The Rapid River High School football team began its second week of practice on Tuesday under sunny, warm conditions.

The Rockets are looking to make another long run in the state's "Eight-Man" playoffs, after making the state championship game in 2011 and the state semifinals in 2012.

This season, the numbers are a bit thin, but the Rockets do return starting quarterback Jake Pearson and starting center/lineman Hayden Hardwick.

"It's a learning process," Rockets Coach Steve Ostrenga said. "Every year, it's a learning process. We've got some veteran returners that are looking pretty good, but we're trying to put everything together yet with all 31 guys (JV and varsity)."

So, how has practice gone so far?

"It's been pretty good," Hardwick said. "It's getting a little warm out, but we're fighting through it. We're practicing hard and giving it 110 percent."

The Rockets have won 20 of their last 25 football games, including long playoff runs over the past two seasons. How do the boys think this season will shape up?

Rapid River Rockets Drill #1

"I'm pretty excited," Hardwick said. "I think we've got just a chance as anybody to do something special."

"Some of the new guys (need to) step up, maybe some of the underclassmen and juniors stepping up and filling the shoes of the seniors of last year," Pearson said. "I think that they'll do a pretty good job."

Both boys feel that Cedarville, which won the Bridge Alliance regular season championship last season, and Bellaire, which beat the Rockets in the state semifinals, will be their top competition in 2013.

"They're gonna be tough," Hardwick said, "but we're gonna be tougher."

"We're right there at the end of the season," Pearson added.

Rapid River will have just a seven-game schedule this season. That's because the team already had an open date in Week Three, and Mid Peninsula cancelled its football program. Rapid River will have only two home games this season; five on the road. The 2013 Rocket schedule is posted below.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos from Tuesday's practice.

DATE	OPPONENT	GAME TIME
Thu 8/29	at Ewen-Trout Creek Panthers	7:00
Thu 9/5	vs POSEN VIKINGS	7:00
Fri 9/20	at Brimley Bays	7:00
Fri 9/27	at Engadine Eagles	7:00
Fri 10/4	at Cedarville Trojans	7:00
Fri 10/11	vs SUPERIOR CENTRAL COUGARS (Homecoming)	7:00
Fri 10/25	at Ballaire Eagles	7:00
TBA	Playoffs Round One	TBA
TBA	Playoffs Round Two	TBA

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

8/29	7:00 PM	Alpena Wildcats	7 - 15 (L)	0-1

9/5	7:30 PM	at Traverse City Central Trojans	7 - 28 (L)	0-2

9/13	7:00 PM	at Cheboygan Chiefs	21 - 33 (L)	0-3

9/20	7:00 PM	Marquette Redmen	35 - 14 (W)	1-3

9/28	2:00 PM	Detroit Country Day	7 - 34 (L)	1-4

10/4	8:00 PM	at Menominee Maroons	0 - 44 (L)	1-5

10/11	7:00 PM	Gladstone Braves	41 - 16 (W)	2-5

10/18	7:00 PM	at Iron Mountain Mountaineers	34 - 14 (W)	3-5

10/25	7:30 PM	at Kingsford Flivvers	21 - 28 (L)	3-6