Rock Falls faces tough task in Stillman Valley rushing attack

ROCK FALLS – Unbeaten Rock Falls will take on winless Stillman Valley on Friday. It’s been since 2016 that a Rock Falls team won Week 1. The last time Stillman Valley lost Week 1 was in 2015.

It’s an odd reversal in the standings considering Rockets coach Kevin Parker has, since his arrival in Rock Falls, pointed to Big Northern powerhouses like Stillman as one of the programs he would like his to emulate.

But Stillman’s loss came against one of the potential league front-runners in Byron. Rock Falls’ win came against a Rockford Christian team just re-entering the league and getting used to a new coaching staff.

So while the Rockets sit at 1-0, improving to 2-0 on Friday will be difficult when it means facing the Cardinals.

“They’re very, very quick on the line and they have a large running back, so you have to make sure to hit him low and get him down,” Rock Falls lineman Austin Cernich said.

Defensively, there’s a lot to like from what Rock Falls did in Week 1. The Rockets shut out Rockford Christian, allowing just two first downs in the game and never allowing a drive to go more than 14 yards.

But to do that to Rockford Christian is one thing. To replicate that when it’s Stillman Valley is a far different ballgame.

“We’re still learning and we’re still developing,” defensive coordinator Bob Mitton said. “I think we took a step forward last week, but we have a ways to go yet.”

Stillman Valley was shut out by Byron in Week 1, but it’s still a Cardinals team that has had plenty of success under Mike Lalor predicated on a strong run game and a lot of power in the trenches.

“It’s the same-old, same-old. It’s smash-mouth football,” Mitton said. “You’ve got to be ready to meet the task. ... They’re going to come out and hit us, how are we going to react? I think our DBs have to play a big role in coming up and helping. Our linebackers have to do a better job of making contact and wrapping up, because they run hard.”

Stillman Valley brings in the power rushing game paced by senior fullback Griffin Britnell.

“We have to focus on their fullback, we have to hit him every play,” Aidan Kobbeman said. “We’ve just got to play our best.”

Facing the Cardinals’ defense, the Rockets hope to keep things rolling from a Week 1 win which saw touchdowns on seven of their nine offensive possessions, with one of the drives that came up short consisting of no more than a kneel down on the final play of the first half.

But this is another tough Stillman Valley defense, which as recently as two years ago averaged 16 points per game against and shut out Rock Falls in what was the last meeting between the two schools.

“Their linebackers flow well and they tackle well as a team,” Rock Falls offensive coordinator Anthony Adamson said. “They’re quick, especially their outside linebackers and their cornerbacks and safeties. ... We have to come our ready, because if we don’t, they’re going to punch us right in the mouth.”