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It’s been a season like no other for the Rock Falls football team, a season where the players have dealt with adversity more than any high schooler should have to.
The death of a teammate and absence of their head coach for the last five weeks has made the fall of 2021 a trying one for the Rockets. But they’ve got one last chance to end on a positive note with Big Northern rival Dixon visiting Hinders Field on Friday night.
“Especially the group of seniors that we’ve had that have been with Coach Parker now through his ride here, I think they have something to play for, they have something to prove, and they want to go out on a high note,” acting co-head coach Alex Leaf said. “The opportunity is going to be something they’re going to really try to take advantage of.”
The last time the teams played, in Week 2 of the 2019 season at Hinders Field, Rock Falls upset the favored Dukes 35-13 for its only win of the season, as the Dukes went on to the playoffs. It’s a feat the Rockets hope to repeat this week.
“We didn’t get to play Dixon last year, but two years ago we were able to pull out a win against them,” Rock Falls senior Booker Cross said. “I’m just hoping we can try to recreate something like that again this year.”
Cross will be a big factor in that. The speedy, athletic back has accounted 11 of Rock Falls’ 16 touchdowns this season, and seven of his nine scoring runs have been longer than 20 yards.
Last week, he moved to quarterback in the second quarter after Easton Canales was injured, and proceeded to run for 122 yards and two TDs, and throw for 98 yards and a two more scores. He’ll be back under center Friday night.
“I like it OK,” he said about playing QB. “I love having the ball in my hands every play.”
That’s exactly what Dixon coach Jared Shaner is worried about.
“Personally, I liked him at running back, because that meant he got to touch the ball 50% of the time, and now he gets to touch the ball 100% of the time,” Shaner said with a chuckle. “He is a very, very good athlete, and we’ve got to prepare for him; he’s one of those kids that everything can be wrong and it can turn out OK for him because of his athleticism.”
Rock Falls (1-7) should come in with some confidence, as well, and not just because of the 2019 win over the Dukes. The last two weeks have seen the Rockets competing at a higher level, and though the results have been a 31-22 loss to North Boone and a 29-25 loss to Oregon, they’re the first two games where Rock Falls has scored more than eight points since the season-opening 50-0 win over Rockford Christian.
“I think they’re excited. We’ve been competitive the last two games,” Leaf said. “Dixon has a high-powered offense … runs the ball a lot and also likes to pass. Really, the big thing is to try and end the season on a high note, send these seniors out on a good note, and also set the tone for those returning next year.”
Dixon has its own weapon back in Jacob Gaither. While sophomore Tyler Shaner did a good job running the offense as Gaither recovered from surgery to repair a broken and dislocated finger on his throwing hand, the senior three-sport standout made his first start of the season and quarterback last week against Byron. All he did was throw for 202 yards and run for 120 in a 52-35 loss.
It’s the sixth game this season the Dukes (5-3) have scored 26 points or more, and their 294 points scored are second in the BNC only to Byron (343). They’ve also given up the fourth-fewest points (146) in the league.
“Honestly, I think the things that have really held us back are our own mistakes, whether it be turnovers, penalties, things like that,” senior Payton Hale said. “There are things we need to clean up in order to finish games stronger.
“We’re just going to have to stay low and tackle well, make sure our fundamentals are sound, and run our offense like we know we can. We just want to make sure we do everything we’re taught, and we don’t want to let up because it’s Week 9.”
Power runner Rylan Ramsdell (476 yards, 5 TDs) and speedy, elusive Zavion Johnson (467 yards, 4 TDs) anchor the Dixon ground game, and the QBs have combined to throw for 1,125 yards and 18 TDs, against just three interceptions, on 88-for-140 passing (62.9%). Mason Randick (35 catches, 448 yards, 9 TDs), Jacob Gusse (24-331, 7 TDs) and Jath St. Pier (15-237, 2 TDs) lead a deep, talented, experienced corps of receivers.
“They’re a really good all-around team, they can do pretty much everything,” Cross said. “We won’t have one thing to mainly focus on … and I feel like we’ll be on our toes more because we never know what they’ll pull out against us.”
While Dixon is favored on paper, 2019 is the perfect example of why they play the games. And that was in Week 2, whereas the Rockets know their season is over after Friday night no matter the outcome.
That, and the chance to win their second straight against a Rock River rival is all the motivation the Rockets need – but it’s also why Dixon is going to be ready for the Rockets’ best.
“We fully expect them to be fired up and give us their best shot. They’ve been coached well this year, they’ve had some adversity, and their kids want to go out on a positive note,” Shaner said. “They understand this is their last football game. We’re going to get a good effort from Rock Falls, I have no doubt.”
“I feel like we have a lot of energy, especially us seniors with it being our last game, and the underclassmen want to play their hearts out to try and send us out with a win,” Cross said. “It’d be pretty nice to get one last win.”