Reeths-Puffer got a break from its meat grinder of a schedule Friday night with a game against an undermanned Union program, and the Rockets took advantage of the chance with a 48-13 win to open O-K Green Conference play.
R-P (2-2, 1-0 O-K Green) wasted no time running over the Red Hawks, taking a 34-0 lead into the halftime break behind big plays from Bryce Muskovin and Marvin Moore. Muskovin carried for over 225 yards on only five attempts, scoring five touchdowns (including a 25-yard receiving score), and Moore rang up a 49-yard score on a pass reception and an 85-yard TD on a reverse.
Coach Cody Kater said he and the coaches didn't even have to remind their team not to overlook Union because of how "detail-oriented" they have been this season.
"I think in years previous, we'd have said, 'Hey, don't overlook these guys, these guys can beat you,' but we are so detail-oriented," Kater said. "Not just the X's and O's but the team portion, the character building piece. We've been so dialed into that...we haven't had time for that conversation. We've talked about creating a better team and a better brotherhood and getting better at football."
R-P was as good as it's been all season in all phases. The Rocket defense, unable to create a turnover in the first three weeks, got three Friday and turned them all into scores. The big plays on offense were a welcome sight, as was Moore breaking loose.
"That was the Marvin we've been seeing in practice and been waiting for," Kater said. "We've been waiting for him to find a comfort zone and perform the way he did tonight."
Quarterback Mason Darke continued to progress running the offense. Darke hasn't yet had the same kind of statistical breakout game enjoyed by Muskovin and Moore, but the Rockets are confident it's coming.
"It's going to come," Kater said. "He's working his tail off. He probably had three or four runs for around 30-40 yards. He had some decent runs. He had a touchdown called back on (illegal formation), where he got to the sideline and showed his speed. There are spurts of it. We're asking him to play quarterback and not play athlete, and he's making progress."
R-P will return to a difficult schedule next week with a game against Forest Hills Northern, the first of a four-game stretch in which the Rockets will face three teams who received votes in this week's AP rankings.
"We're going to be right in the meat of this," Kater said. "It'll get our younger programs a chance to improve as well, because they're playing tougher opponents than we've ever played in the school's history...We're just focusing on us and finding ways to improve."
