The Battle of Lake Rockwell once again went to the Streetsboro Rockets’ football team, extending their winning streak to seven games against Metro Athletic Conference and Portage County rival Ravenna, by defeating the Ravens 49-3 last Friday evening at Portage Community Bank Stadium in Ravenna.
“We got our defensive legs under us but just the last two weeks, our kids have understood that coming out of the Norton game we don’t have a lot of room to drop another one and it has put some urgency into us,” said Rockets’ Coach Pete Thompson.
The Rockets (6-2, 4-1) have reigned supreme against their Portage County foes for the last seven years, winning the Battle of Lake Rockwell in the final year that both teams belonged to the Portage Trail Conference and being undefeated in the annual neighborhood rivalry since joining the MAC in 2020.
Thompson, who is well-versed in the importance of Portage County rivalries from his days at Crestwood, acknowledged the significance of Streetsboro still enjoying at least one Portage County rivalry match since joining the MAC.
“Obviously we look at it as a lot of our kids know a lot of their kids and there is familiarity on both sides. Just coming here regardless of the opponent, we focus on ourselves to get better,” he noted.
On Friday, Streetsboro’s defense was stout, and the rushing attack paved the way for the Rockets to take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter after a 15-yard touchdown run by senior tailback/linebacker Janiere Cook and a touchdown from senior running back/linebacker Ayden Kneubel from 4 yards out.
Although Streetsboro took an early lead, the nine-year coach said that the Ravens (2-6, 1-4) gave the offense some fits as their defense stacked the box.
According to Thompson, it was time for the Rockets to spread the offense by opening the passing game.
“We went into some heavier formations, and they had 11 kids in the box, so at one point we said we had to throw the ball,” he added. “If they were going to put 11 kids in the box we had to throw and execute in the passing game. Finding our play-action game midway in the first quarter and into the second, we hit a couple of those big plays and loosened their defense up.”
Junior quarterback Colton Cox delivered on some deep passes, finding junior tight end/linebacker Kyle Giomo wide open.
The Rockets’ tight end hauled in only three receptions, but each catch was for a touchdown as Cox connected with him for 42-yard, 13-yard, and 46-yard touchdown passes.
“We noticed they were stacking the box and were thinking ‘We are going to throw the ball down the field,” said Giacomo. “Luckily, I was the target. I got to be able to have Colton throw me the ball and I caught the ball for three touchdowns.”
While Streetsboro kept adding to its lead, the Ravens struggled to advance the ball as several of their drives stalled out. They only got near the end zone once on a 10-play, 76-yard drive in the second period but the Rockets’ defense stiffened at the goal line, holding them to a 20-yard field goal by junior kicker/punter Jose Carpenter.
“That is something we have not played well all year is great red zone defense, but I thought that was good to see,” Thompson noted.
Streetsboro took a 35-3 lead into the half, triggering the running clock for the second half while increasing their lead to 49-3 by scoring a pair of touchdowns.
While the Rockets have not experienced an undefeated season as they did last year, Thompson praised the team’s resiliency in the wake of each of their losses, as after each one Streetsboro has gone on a nice run by stringing together consecutive victories.
“Sometimes kids bounce back a lot easier than coaches,” he said. “The kids have a lot more going on than just football. They have school, family commitments and have work. For as great as our year was last year, we were injury free all year and this year it has just been the opposite. From the get-go, I don’t think we have one game where truly our whole starting line-up that we projected has been out there together.”
Streetsboro will continue league play by hosting MAC foe Field at Rockets Stadium on Friday at 7 p.m. while the Ravens will also stay home and welcome league rival Coventry to Portage Community Bank Stadium on the same evening.
