MUSKEGON TWP. — Heading into Friday’s game, the chips were stacked against the Reeths-Puffer football team.
The Rockets were without their starting quarterback and had several other key starters dealing with injuries or illness.
On top of that, Byron Center, ranked No. 3 statewide in Division 2, was coming to town.
But the Rockets didn’t back down.
Reeths-Puffer stood toe-to-toe with the Bulldogs for much of the game, and led entering the fourth quarter, before ultimately falling 42-28.
Byron Center scored three touchdowns in the final nine minutes to steal the win. 
R-P's Sage Secrest breaks loose for a big gain. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Despite the loss, the Rockets displayed the level of effort, energy and belief that R-P Coach Cody Kater has been looking for all season from his young and developing team.
“Overall, I’m very proud of the guys, very proud of the team,” said Kater, whose team is now 2-4 overall and 1-2 in O-K Green conference play. “We went toe-to-toe. We weren’t proud of ourselves last week. We weren’t proud of ourselves in Week 1 or Week 2 because of effort and energy and focus. We showed that a little bit more today, but we’ve still got to find a way to do it for four quarters.”
R-P’s Sage Secrest stepped into the starting quarterback role for the first time Friday in place of injured QB Mason Darke, whom Kater said is “week-to-week.”
The senior filled in admirably, guiding the offense effectively and scoring two touchdowns on long runs.
“We’ve got a senior back there playing quarterback for the first time in his career,” Kater said. “But our team freaking believes in him, we believe in him, and he played his heart out.” 
R-P's Cal Millis dives to make a tackle. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Other key injuries for R-P included standout running back Bryce Muskovin, who played but had just five carries, and Marvin Moore, who left the game with a shoulder injury early in the fourth quarter. Several starters on the Rocket defense played after missing several practices earlier this week due to illness.
A handful of penalties at inopportune times proved costly for the Rockets.
An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty negated a big pass play in the fourth quarter, when the game was tied 28-28, and eventually forced the Rockets to punt. Byron Center took the lead for good just minutes later.
“The biggest play was the 30-yard changeover from us gaining 15-20 yards on a pass, and having it coming back,” Kater said. “That was one of the bigger plays of the night.”
Playing with the effort and belief they displayed on Friday will be key for the Rockets next week - when they play Muskegon - and beyond, according to Kater.
R-P's Luke Johnson looks for running room. Photo/Jeremy Clark
“Our big thing this week was believing in ourselves, in our brothers next to us, and believing in the process,” the coach said. “They’re setting this thing up for maybe two years down the road, maybe three years down the road, maybe for next week. You’ve got to continue to show up and put the work in, day in and day out.”
Byron Center opened the scoring on its first possession of the game on a four-yard run by Kellen Payne. The PAT made it 7-0 with 8:02 to play in the opening quarter.
Secrest broke loose for a 57-yard TD run just three plays later, and a missed PAT left the score 7-6 with 6:41 remaining in the first.
Neither team scored again until midway through the second quarter, when the Bulldogs and Rockets found the end zone on back-to-back plays.
Byron Center QB Landon Tungate scored on a 56-yard run to put the Bulldogs up 14-6 with 7:44 left in the half.
R-P's Elliot Schneider wraps up Byron Center's quarterback. Photo/Jeremy Clark
The Rockets answered immediately when Moore took the ensuing kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown. A two-point run by Secrest evened the score at 14-14.
The R-P defense got a stop and gave the offense a chance to score before halftime, but a missed field goal attempt with 11 seconds remaining left the score tied at the break.
Byron Center struck first in the third quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run by Tungate on fourth-and-goal, putting the Bulldogs up 21-14.
On the next play from scrimmage, Secrest pulled the Rockets even again with a 60-yard touchdown run, making it 21-21 with 4:16 left in the third quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, a big hit by R-P’s Mari Davis jarred the ball loose and Luke Johnson recovered, giving R-P the ball at the Byron Center 10-yard-line. 
R-P's Marvin Moore breaks loose for big yardage. Photo/Jeremy Clark
On a fourth-and-goal play, the Rockets took the lead with a trick play. Secrest handed off to Muskovin, who fired a pass to Sam Hillin in the end zone for a 2-yard TD. The PAT kick gave R-P a promising 28-21 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Then Byron Center took control. The Bulldogs scored on a 25-yard pass from Tungate to Isaac Lee with 9:09 to go to even the score 28-28.
After an R-P three-and-out, Byron Center scored on a 24-yard pass from Tungate to Will Lake — on a play that was nearly a sack — to take a 35-28 lead with 4:20 remaining.
On Reeths-Puffer’s next drive, Bryon Center’s defense came up with a key interception. The Bulldog offense then added another score on a 36-yard run by Tungate.
Secrest rushed 22 times for 186 yards and two touchdowns. He completed 7-of-13 passes for 104 yards. Johnson, who also dealt with injuries late in the game, had four carries for 15 yards and a 35-yard reception.
Johnson and Elliot Schneider each had nine tackles to lead the defense. Cal Millis added six stops and Ethan Muskovin had five. 