ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (Sept. 7, 2022) -- News and notes after Rocky River's 27-7 loss to Valley Forge on Sept. 2 and heading into the Pirates' Friday game at Lakewood ...
GAME 3: Rocky River (0-3) was defeated by the Valley Forge Patriots 27-7. The visitors scored touchdowns on four straight possessions over the first-through-third quarters in what marked Rocky River's 2022 home opener. Junior quarterback Dan Kiewel had a pair of rushing TDs and led a Valley Forge squad that controlled the pace of the contest throughout. The Patriots ran 66 plays to River's 34.
VALLEY RALLY: Valley Forge has won four of the last five meetings. River is 4-4 in its eight-game all-time series against the Patriots. Prior to Friday, its three losses have been by a combined five points.
BUCS SCORE BULLET POINTS: The Double-R offense tallied 29 yards on the ground and 125 yards in the passing game. Its 154-yard total marked the program's lowest single-game total since Oct. 16, 2020 (132 yards versus Padua Franciscan). ... River's lone touchdown was scored by senior tight end Stan Heuler. who hauled in a long pass from junior quarterback Julian Patti. The play -- at the 9:49-mark of the fourth quarter -- totaled 60 yards and is Rocky River's longest this season. ... Heuler had seven catches in the game; he is tied with senior wide receiver Mack Massad for the early-season lead in receptions: both have logged 10 receptions.
TACKLE BOX: Sophomore Josh Mommers (11 tackles), junior Ryan Ricketti (10T, interception), Heuler (7T, two tackles for loss), sophomore Cam Bulkowski (7T), sophomore Ben Kuhnen (7T), and Aiden Konet (7T) were the Pirates' top tacklers against Valley Forge. ... Mommers has now registered double-digit tackle totals in back-to-back games. He has a team-high 29 on the season.
DETOUR ON DETROIT ROAD: Prior to Friday's setback, the Pirates had won their previous 11 home openers. Rocky River had not lost a home opener since 2010.
ON DECK: Game 4 of the 2022 season finds the Pirates heading across the river that bears the same name as their school. The Sons of Blackbeard will clank swords and exchange cannon fire with the Lakewood Rangers. The game will be held Friday at Lakewood Stadium and will kick off at 7 p.m. ... In last year's cross-river rivalry tussle, Lakewood defeated Rocky River 21-7.
BRIDGE MIX: Friday’s Battle of the Bridge will mark the 17th all-time meeting between two schools located just 4-3/4 miles from one another. The Rangers lead the all-time series, 10-5-1, but the Maroon & White had won four straight meetings before losing last fall. ... River’s 2012 victory – a 21-12 triumph on Sept. 28 – came after a 71-year hiatus in the series. Rocky River and Lakewood had played 10 times between 1922-1940.
by Skip Snow
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