ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- This particular Friday night under the lights was one charged by an electrifying performance turned in by Rocky River's senior players and by the Pirate offense as a whole. The high voltage they provided was matched only by the thunderbolts in the October sky above Rocky River Stadium on a night that saw River defeat Buckeye, 46-14.
Friday's Great Lakes Conference battle at the Gridiron in the Heart of River featured big plays, Bebies, Bucs, Bucks, and bolts of lightning. And a weather delay of two hours-and-20 minutes. When the echoes of crashing thunder and of clashing swords and antlers died out, eight Pirate seniors stood victorious under the hazy glow of stadium lights. They represented the best of a program notching its first victory over Buckeye in six tries. And the 2021 graduating class of Rocky River Football had just flipped the script on a 42-15 loss to that same Buckeye program. That loss, almost a year ago to the day -- on Oct. 25 -- was part of a three-game, season-ending losing streak for the Pirates. It was a rough stretch that saw the Maroon & White outscored, 111-39. It was a rough stretch endured by junior players like Sam Fuchs, Charlie Hudson, Matt George, Justin Houston, Joey Pike, Joey Riedl, David Rosenberg, and Wesley Yuen.
That veteran octet was on hand in a pregame senior salute on Friday. Then through a first quarter that saw River fall behind and then vault past the Bucks. Then through a lengthy weather delay. Then through the balance of a game dominated by the powerful exploits of the Rocky River offensive and defensive units, the AC and DC currents jolting the visiting Bucks on both sides of the ball.
After the Pirates fell behind, 7-0, early in the first quarter, it was the River offense providing the first jolt. A Tommy Bebie 42-yard run was followed by an 18-yard Braedon Spies touchdown run, an the Pirates (5-2, 4-1 GLC) and Bucks (5-3, 5-2) were tied at 7-7 at the 8:54-mark of the first.
The rest of the first half played out as a 7-for-10 exchange playing to the favor of the home team. Buckeye scored on a 59-yard Jaden May-to-Shane Bambrick pass. River's 10 points came on the right leg of Mack Massad -- on a 32-yard field goal -- and on the churning right and left legs of Tommy Bebie -- on a 6-yard TD run.
The tense, 17-14, senior-night struggle turned into a rain-soaked Rocky River rout in the second half. More big plays and four more rushing touchdowns (Tommy Bebie twice, Spies, Matt George) were dealt out by the Pirate offense. Scoreboard bagels were served up by the River defense. And jockeying that widening scoreboard gap all the way and on both sides of the ball were seven of the eight Rocky River seniors. (The Pirates were playing without the services of Sam Fuchs, who is one of the team's leading tacklers.)
Solid two-way performances were registered by Charlie Hudson, Matt George, Joey Pike, David Rosenberg, and Wesley Yuen. Justin Houston (defensive line) and Joey Riedl (offensive line) were stalwarts in the trenches against a foe that a year ago dominated at the line of scrimmage.
In 2019, Buckeye outgained Rocky River on the ground, 439 yards to 85. On Friday, the senior members of the River front seven on defense and the Pirate offensive line helped turn those numbers upside down. Johnny (168 rushing yards) and Tommy Bebie (138) combined for 306 yards in sailing the Sons of Blackbeard through Buckeye waters (and, in turn, keeping the ball away from the Bucks offense). The River Raiders scored in each of the game's four quarters, and they didn't allow a Buckeye point after the 3:44-mark of the second stanza.
It was an efficient and productive night on both sides of the ball. And with big plays all around, you might say it was electrifying. And, for eight seniors and their families, satisfying.
by Skip Snow