RM football returns to winning ways after a comeback victory over Poolesville 24-20. It was not the prettiest game played by the Rockets, but in crunch time, they made the plays necessary to become 6-1 on the season.

Flashbacks of last week’s demoralizing first quarter against Northwest started after an early fumble gave the Falcons a short field to go ahead 7-0, but the Rockets answered back in the second quarter with two touchdowns and a field goal right before the half.

Junior Tylen Hebron showed his speed and vision with a 57-yard run in the second quarter, weaving through Poolesville’s defense before being dragged down at the six. Jhordan Greene finished off the drive, the first of two touchdowns on the ground that quarter for him.

A fumble recovery by the Rockets’ defense set up Greene’s second touchdown carry in the second quarter, before Jakub Chumtong nailed a long field goal before halftime, making it 17-7.

After a flat third quarter, the Rockets fell behind once more 17-20. The defense came through, forcing a three-and-out inside the Poolesville fifteen-yard line. The short punt set the offense up at Poolesville’s 22-yard line, and Hebron took advantage with a touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage to put the Rockets ahead for good in the fourth quarter.

After a tough game against Northwest last week, it was great to see Hebron get space and use it to its full potential. “I got my act together and I came through for the team,” Hebron said.

The Rockets were stymied on all but a few offensive possessions against the Falcons, but those few were able to win the game. “That’s the frustrating part. That 22-yard touchdown [by Hebron] is the stuff we should have been doing all game,” Coach Klotz said. “We wait until crunch time, and it’s huge that we come through in crunch time, but that same play we called earlier in the game, we don’t have all 11 guys executing.”

The Rockets’ defense again came up huge when needed against Poolesville, stopping a drive on fourth down deep within RM territory late in the fourth quarter. “We just have to bring heart to every game. If we bring heart, we can win the game,” senior captain Michael Silver said. “We brought the heart today, and it was not pretty but a win’s a win.”

Poolesville had wide receiver Daniel Alexander covered tightly all night. In his place, sophomore quarterback Spencer Silverstein looked for Daniel’s brother, Daryn, for big catches. While Poolesville were unable to hold Daniel completely, still giving up a long pass play, Daryn filled the gaps in the Falcons’ coverage.

“It’s just like at home, in backyard football,” Daniel said of playing next to his sophomore brother. “I think he had more receptions and yards than me, but that’s good, because we got the ‘W’.”

“It feels great, I’ve been working hard to play with him,” Daryn said. “Usually we play against each other. He’s like my rival, but that’s my brother. He was supporting me tonight, and I love him. I had a good time playing with him.”

While RM beat Poolesville, the play will have to be stronger to continue on the winning ways. “I’m proud of our kids for finding a way to win. It was ugly; it was not our best performance; it was not playoff football that we were trying to play today,” Coach Klotz said. “But I’m proud of our kids for being resilient. There were a lot of turns in the game where they could have really hung their heads and given up, and they didn’t.

“Same challenge as last week is get in the film room and find a way to get all 11 guys to execute on the same play, especially offensively. The first thing I told my kids after the game was hats off to Poolesville. They came out here and they played hard in front of their home crowd, they played physical […] and they played their hearts out.”

The 6-1 Rockets play at home next Friday against Clarksburg. “Clarksburg are a great team. They are fighting for a playoff spot, as are we,” Coach Klotz said. “We’re back in town this Friday so hopefully everybody comes out and we get a good playoff atmosphere in our stadium, because that’s what this is, a fight for a playoff spot.”