Rockets Kickoff season with win over Predators
New Lisbon quarterback CoBretti Forsythe runs for a first down on Friday against Kickapoo/La Farge.
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By David Paradise
Star-Times Sports Editor
New Lisbon senior running back Mitchell Vinz, probably envisioned the opener of his senior season a little differently.
Vinz, starting in the Rockets' backfield for the fourth season, racked up 124 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, but an injury kept Vinz on the sideline for the second half.
Junior running back David Bunker picked up where Vinz left off in the second half and junior linebacker Garrett Bunker and the Rockets' defense held the Kickapoo/La Farge Predators scoreless in the second half as the Rockets won their eighth straight season opener, 32-6.
"David did a great job, he really stepped in for Mitchell in the second half," said New Lisbon coach Brad Bever. "Garrett also did a great job getting after the quarterback. He was aggresive all night."
The Rockets opened the season on defense, and after a couple quick first downs by the Predators, the Rockets defense stuffed a run on fourth and one, to gain possession.
The Rockets ran the ball right at the Predators, with the combination of Vinz, Bunker and Anthony Edgren. New Lisbon's drive stalled and facing a fourth and eight on the Predators 29 yard line, New Lisbon quarterback CoBretti Forsythe rolled around the left side of the Rockets line, cutback across the field, and out ran the Predators secondary to put the Rockets up 6-0.
The Rockets' defense forced a three and out, but a New Lisbon fumble gave the ball back to the Predators.
New Lisbon's defense forced another three and out, and the offense went back to work.
Vinz broke a 36 yard run on the second play of the Rockets drive and Forsythe found tight end Chad Wyss on fourth and five for a 19 yard gain the kept the Rockets drive alive. Vinz scored from eight yards out on the next play to put the Rockets up 12-0.
The Rocket defense forced another Predators' three and out, but the offense couldn't capitalize and gave the ball back to the Predators.
Kickapoo/La Farge drove down the field and scored on a 20 yard touchdown pass to narrow the lead to 12-6.
New Lisbon's ground game got back on track on their next drive, as the Rockets marched down the field and scored on a three yard touchdown from Vinz.
Forsythe found Justin Pollack in the endzone for the 2-point conversion and New Lisbon led 20-6.
The Predators moved the ball down the field before a Vinz interception stopped the drive and the Rockets went into halftime with a 14 point cushion.
New Lisbon's offense got the ball to start the third quarter. The Rockets continued to move the ball on the ground. Bunker moved into the feature back role in the Rockets' offense with Vinz out. The drive stalled after a sack and the Rockets turned the ball over on downs.
The defense forced another Predators' punt and New Lisbon scored on a quick five-play-drive, as Bunker broke a 30 yard touchdown run, that gave New Lisbon a 26-6 lead.
The Rockets' defense went back to work and forced another punt.
New Lisbon couldn't get anything going on offense, and was forced to punt on two straight possesions. A Jeremiah Shanahan interception gave the Rockets momentum and Forsythe scored from one yard out to that put the game out of reach as New Lisbon won 32-6.
"It's always good to start with a win. We had those first game mistakes, but we improved a lot in the second half, especially on the line," said Bever. "We need to improve on our communication and cut down on the penalties."
Vinz led the Rockets with 124 yards and two touchdowns. Bunker added 100 yards and a score, and Forsythe added two touchdowns runs.
New Lisbon will travel to Ithaca on Friday for a non-conference matchup.