From this point on, the Streetsboro Rockets’ football team will have to embrace their inner road warrior. The Rockets fended off Beaver Local, winning 41-20 in the first round of the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division IV Region 13 playoffs at Rockets Stadium’s Quinn Field last Friday evening in their final home game of the season.
“We’ve been here before in the past,” said Rockets’ Coach Pete Thompson. “It is one game at a time, but we talked to the kids starting last Friday night that it is a series of one game seasons so all of our focus this week was how can we win this week?”
This Friday, the fifth-seeded Rockets will hit the road and play against number four seed West Branch in the second round at Clinton Heacock Stadium in Beloit at 7 p.m.
“I know just by looking at their scores they are an offensive juggernaut and they have got that program back up and running,” said Streetsboro’s seven-year coach. “They have had a few down years but obviously are executing at a very high level. Obviously, they are doing something right over there.”
Holding a 34-13 advantage in the third quarter, the Rockets’ (10-1, 6-1) lead was trimmed to 34-20 when Beaver Local senior quarterback Austin Cline punched the ball in from 30 yards out and the Beavers regained possession when they successfully executed an onside kick, taking over at Streetsboro’s 41.
“We didn’t execute there,” acknowledged Thompson. “We backpedaled from the ball when we were supposed to stay static and wait for the ball to come to our spot. We did not execute there, and they did.”
The Rockets’ defense stayed firm, forcing a turnover on downs on the Beavers’ (6-5, 2-0) 24 and engineered a seven-play, 76-yard drive capped off by a 5-yard touchdown run by senior wide receiver/defensive back Preston Hopperton, pushing the Rockets’ advantage to 41-20.
On the Beavers’ next possession, a promising drive ended when Cline’s pass was deflected by Hopperton and junior tailback/defensive back Jackson Gula made the diving interception, giving Streetsboro the ball back at their 35 and ran out the clock to preserve the victory.
“We knew what they were going to run,” said senior tailback/defensive back Kylan Rue. “We watched a lot of offense and defense on them and watched a lot of film. We bounced back from adversity.”
In addition to extending their season for another week, the Rockets also honored Thompson at the end of the game, who recorded his 50th career victory as Streetsboro’s head coach in the regular season finale against Akron Coventry on Oct. 20.
The Streetsboro Athletic Department presented Thompson with a plaque at the end of game celebrating his accomplishments.
“It means I have had a lot of good players and have coached with a lot of good guys,” Thompson said. “To me what makes real good coaches are real good players and the guys you coach with. I’m fortunate with some real good dudes.”
Streetsboro was fueled by another fast start in the first quarter, taking a 13-0 lead sparked by sophomore Janiere Cook, who scored on a 12-yard touchdown run and Hopperton, who also scored on an 88-yard touchdown run but the Rockets missed the extra point.
Although the Beavers turned the ball over on downs on its first possession, they stayed aggressive on offense and converted on a fourth down conversion when Cline connected with junior wide receiver/defensive back Brock Severs on a 10-yard touchdown reception, cutting the lead to 13-7.
Streetsboro extended its lead to 20-7 when Hopperton scored on a 4-yard touchdown run but the Rockets consistently gave the Beavers prime field position, attempting several onside kicks in the first half but never recovered one.
“That’s what we have done all year,” said Thompson. “We always try and steal a possession. We did the work in the offseason and last year we onside kicked a lot, and we worked in the offseason where the average kickoff return went to. Everyone says analytics but if you can steal an offensive possession or two during the game, it helps your defense and gives you a short field to put some points on the board.”
The Rockets’ defense stifled the Beavers and increased its lead to 27-7 when Cook scored his second touchdown of the game, this time on an 18-yard rushing touchdown.
Although Streetsboro’s running game was fueled by the trio of Hopperton, Rue and junior quarterback Cohen Klimak, Cook also impacted the offense, rushing for 30 yards and two touchdowns on four carries.
“It means a lot because I am young and just to help in a playoff game, scoring two touchdowns is the first time for me as a varsity starter,” said Cook.
The Beavers stayed in striking distance, converting on three more fourth downs in the game and had a chance to whittle Streetsboro’s lead to only one touchdown when they recovered the onside kick.
According to Thompson, the Beavers set them up for success by frequently winning on first downs, giving them shorter conversion attempts but it still was not enough to spoil Streetsboro’s home finale.
