Last week I caught some heat for doubting Whitehall. This week, it was our very own SportsNut Jeff Burel who put his money on Spring Lake — and man, did Reeths-Puffer make him eat those words. Coach Kater even gave Jeff’s pick a little shoutout in the postgame interview. Not a great look, Jeff…
We’re just playin’ Jeff, thanks for all you do for CatchMark SportsNet.
You know it’s a wild one when SportsNut Dan Vaughan — our guy over at Revolution Mortgage (check him out here) — is messaging me saying “This game is nuts!” And he wasn’t lying.
The Rockets came in 0-2, staring down the barrel of a brutal OK Green schedule. They knew Friday at Spring Lake was make-or-break, and they played like a team desperate to change its story.
By the 7-minute mark of the first quarter, both squads had already found the end zone. RP held the edge 14-7 after one, then went full throttle in the second. Braylon Swain hit Jamichael Williams for a touchdown, Spring Lake answered with a score of their own (PAT no good), and the Rockets punched right back again. Halftime scoreboard: Reeths-Puffer 28, Spring Lake 13. Yeah — 41 points before the band even hit the field for the halftime show.
But Spring Lake wasn’t folding. The Lakers stormed out in the third with two quick touchdowns, tying things up at 28 and flipping momentum their way. RP didn’t flinch. Swain and company delivered another strike to go up 35-28, then sealed the deal with a massive fourth-down stand with just 45 seconds left. Ballgame.
Swain went off, throwing for 320 yards and four TDs on 14-of-19 passing. Millis was everywhere — 110 rushing yards, 49 receiving yards, two scores, plus 10 tackles on defense. Mason Darke caught five balls for 135 yards and a touchdown, while Williams added 125 yards and two more scores.
The Rockets finally snap a seven-game skid and move to 1-2, while handing Spring Lake its first loss after blowout wins over Fruitport and Gladwin.
Spring Lake will head over the Christian to take on the Eagles in a non-conference matchup.
RP just might have lit the fuse on their season — and next week, they roll into Mona Shores for their first OK-Green rivalry matchup.
If you are interested in more of our content, head to our website at catchmarksports.com, our YouTube, or our Facebook page!
