PIGEON — Moments after Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port's 33-7 loss to Reese in Week 7, plans were already in the works for the rematch.
"We knew right after that game that if we wanted to get a chance to redeem ourselves we had to win out and maybe we'd get another shot at them," said EPBP coach George Gardy.
"Well, now we have it."
Yes, the Lakers and Rockets will meet once again, this time in the opening round of the Division 6 playoffs at 7 p.m. Friday at Reese.
"We know they are a very good team," Gardy said. "They are very athletic and they are very fast. We know we have our hands full, just like last time. We have to play very well."
That's exactly what the 7-2 overall Lakers didn't do Oct. 9. Though they trailed just 12-7 at the half, the Lakers gave up too many big plays, and couldn't muster any themselves, in their worst loss since a 41-7 setback to these same Rockets in Week 7 of 2007.
"We just could never get anything going," Gardy said.
In fact, the Rockets have had EPBP's number of late, winning six of the teams' last seven meetings.
That Oct. 9 meeting was played in sloppy conditions, with the teams combining for numerous fumbles and 16 plays for minus yardage. The Lakers had negative yardage nine times while the Rockets returned the favor seven times, according to Gardy, mostly due to fumbles.
"It seemed like we'd turn a second-and-five into a third-and-11," Gardy said. "We shot ourselves in the foot way too many times in that game.
"We've played in just as bad, or even worse, conditions the last few weeks and we've been just fine."
The Lakers were more than fine last week, rolling to a 22-0 shutout over playoff-bound Sandusky in wet and windy conditions.
Luke Voelker, Josh Goins and Mike Wolschlager scored touchdowns for the Lakers in that game. Meanwhile, the EPBP defense limited the Redskins to just 78 yards rushing and 54 yards passing. Going into the contest, Sandusky had been averaging over 32 points per game.
"We played very well defensively," Gardy said. "Our linemen and linebackers were in the right spots and they all did a nice job.
"We needed to finish strong — and we did."
While the Lakers are pleased with their regular season finale performance, the Rockets aren't. They traveled to two-win Mt. Morris last Friday and dropped a 14-6 decision to the Panthers.
That loss not only stung in the win-loss column, but it also dropped the 7-2 overall Rockets to the No. 2 seed in the district.
Offensively, Cody Somerville has had a nice season for the Rockets, including a 215-yard, two-TD performance against the Lakers in Week 7. He had scoring runs of 61 and 77 yards. Overall, Somerville has over 400 yards and six scores on the season while backfield mate Travis VanAlst has around 340 yards.
Justin Heinlein, who had two touchdown receptions against the Lakers, has hauled in 12 catches for 350 yards and seven scores this season.
Sophomore quarterback Travis Menapace has started the last few games for the Rockets in place of senior Josh Pickell, who was lost for the season with a ruptured spleen. Menapace, though, sprained his ankle in last week's game against Mt. Morris, according to reports. His status for Friday is uncertain.
Defensively, Kevin Kinasz leads the Rockets from his linebacker spot.
The Rockets come in yielding just 13.3 points per game, giving up more than two touchdowns just twice this season.
The winner of this game between two of the three Greater Thumb West tri-champions will take on the winner of the No. 1 seed St. Charles vs. No. 4 seed Sandusky contest for the district championship.
