The race for the leader in the Huron League just got a lot closer as the Riverview Pirates beat the Flat Rock Rams 36-34. With the win for Riverview, there is now a three-way tie for first place between Flat Rock, Riverview, and Carleton.
Riverview Pirates
Wing-T Still Top Tier
The Pirates of Riverview have had the same calling card for as long as we can remember, and that is using the Wing-T offense. For Riverview, they line up with three Running Backs and use misdirection on who gets the ball. This year, all three backs can take over a game. In this one, it was a tale of two halves for the backs as in the first half, it was Ian Adams who had 11 carries for 118 yards and two touchdowns; he would finish with 164 yards on 14 carries, and Nathan Pinkava had the second half as he rushed nine times for 100 yards and a touchdown. Pinkava finished with 18 carries for 166 yards and two touchdowns. Either guy can come and take over the game.
Keep Running
Running is the way to go for these Pirates, as they only threw the ball twice. Quarterback Caleb DiBrano passed for 20 yards on two passing attempts. That means they ran the ball 43 times, and they went quick. They ran the game at their pace, which showed as they played from in front all night.
Defense Comes up big Late.
The Pirates defense made two big plays in this one. The first came with 6:48 left to play after a touchdown from Flat Rock’s Brian Booms. The Rams tried for a two-point conversion, and Junior Ian Adams picked it off to keep the Pirates up by two. The second play came with just north of two minutes left to play, and after it looked like momentum shifted in favor of Flat Rock, they fumbled the ball, and the Pirates jumped on it and recovered the fumble to put the game away.
Flat Rock Rams
Brian Brings the Boom
The Senior Running Back Brian Booms brought the Boom for the Rams. Booms rushed for 134 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. Booms picked up the stick for his team on a night when his Quarterback didn’t have his “A” game. If Booms can keep up the rushing attack for the Rams, he can add another level to their team.
Special Teams: Big Come up’s
Flat Rock’s special teams unit came up big late in the game. The Rams went for three onside kicks and came up with two of them. The first one came after a Graham Junge to Rocco Breslin touchdown, and that one was recovered with 10:40 left in the game, and that recovery led to a Brian Booms touchdown. They tried for the second on the ensuing kickoff, but the Riverview Pirates were ready for it. The third and final onside kick attempt came with 2:14 left on the clock. They were able to recover that one, and it set them up for a great ending, but the first play for the Rams offense came, and they fumbled the ball, and the Pirates came up with the fumble recovery to end the game.