ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (Oct. 25, 2024) -- The Pirates had the Helm wrested from their clutches in a hard-fought War by the Shore Friday. The annual trophy game saw the Bay Rockets leverage early Rocky River turnovers into a 14-0 lead, and the visitors plowed ahead from there, clocking a 35-21 conquest in front of a charged crowd on a magnificent autumn evening at the Gridiron in the Heart of River.
Juniors Rocco Ereditario and Charlie Rodgers made for a powerful one-two punch in driving a methodical, clock-chewing Bay offense. Both hammered against the River defense and made frequent gains of 5-plus yards. Ereditario and Rodgers were instrumental throughout, as Bay (6-4, 4-3 Cleveland West Conference) built a 14-0 lead by late in the first half, maintained a lead to the finish line, and earned its first win against the Pirates (7-3, 5-2) since 2020.
River contributed to its deficit by turning the ball over in each of its first two possessions (interception, fumble). The Maroon & White would finish the game as a minus-2 in turnover margin. Five interceptions over the last two weeks have fueled Pirate foes (Buckeye, Bay) outscoring Rocky River 90-21 in that span.
On Friday, the Rockets -- now 4-1 across their last five games -- led 14-7 at halftime and 28-14 at the end of the third period. Bay punched in short-field, turnover-launched drives in its first scores of each half. For the game, the Rockets' average drive start was its own 44-yard line, a 16-yard edge over that of the Pirates (own 28). But Bay left no doubt with the way it bludgeoned the Buccaneers in a marathon, game-clinching drive in the fourth quarter.
Leading by just one score (28-21) and taking control of the pigskin at the 10:24-mark of the fourth, the Rockets, who had averaged just 18 points per game heading into Friday, banged out a 14-play, 80-yard march to paydirt to extend their lead. Ereditario capped off that drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge. The drive included three third-down conversions (Bay went 8-of-12 for the game) and ate up over eight minutes of clock time.
It was that salvo that officially sunk the Pirates.
For the game, the Rockets logged a time of possession edge of 29:58 to 18:02. After failing to win the Helm in three straight falls, Friday was their time.
CANNON FIRE ...
FROM THE BUCS SCORE: Rocky River outgained Bay 310 yards to 292. Cam Bulkowski (six carries for 62 yards, three receptions for 62Y), Joey DiSalvo (11 rushes, 49Y), Oran Grieve (four receptions, 80Y, two TDs), and Ryan Taylor (11-for-17, 183 passing yards) were the Pirates' top performers on offense. The River defense was paced by Ben Bogre (13 tackles), Jeff Maslar (7T), Danny Berg (6T), and Alex Van Meter (6T). Taylor threw for two scores -- his 19th and 20th of the year -- and ran in one more.
SERIES UPDATE: Friday's contest at Rocky River Stadium marked the 86th all-time meeting between Rocky River and Bay. In a series launched in 1935, the Rockets now hold a 44-39-3 edge.
ON DECK: Up next for the Pirates in an unprecedented fifth straight trip to the Buckeye State postseason. Rocky River -- 4-4 across eight playoff games from 2020-23 -- will host former conference foe Holy Name in a DIII Region 10 bracket game on Nov. 1 (7 p.m. kickoff). The Pirates are the No. 4 seed in DIII R10; the Green Wave (3-6 with a 10th game that does not register in official Ohio High School Athletic Association standings) are seeded 13th. River and Holy Name, which split six games between 2015-20, have not met since the 2020 season). ... Since 2020, the Sons of Blackbeard have gone 4-1 in five playoff games at home.
SWASHBUCKLING '64: RRHS saluted members of its 1964 Southwestern Conference championship team that were in attendance. In 1964, Rocky River opened its season with a scoreless tie and then a loss. The 0-1-1 Buccaneers would then rattle off seven straight victories to earn a Southwestern Conf championship, the program’s fourth in a five-year span that began in 1960.
SALUTE TO SERVICE: Friday's game marked Rocky River's Danny Scherry Salute to Service, a program that honors servicemen and veterans, looks to inspire the community to help and serve others, and promotes patriotism and civic pride. As part of the evening's festivities, River unveiled a new feature of its Detroit Rd. stadium. Inspired by prior Salute to Service weeks in Rocky River, junior Henry Ward recently undertook a special project as an Eagle Scout. Ward looked to combine Pirate athletics and a sense for civic duty, and he came up with a special way to recognize Prisoners of War and soldiers Missing in Action with a special stadium seat. Named the POW/MIA Honor Seat, it will serve not to increase seating capacity at RRHS stadium events but as a place of recognition and remembrance. It is intended as a visual reminder of the ultimate sacrifice that our nation's troops have made.
by Skip Snow
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