During the time of Coach Roy Lester, when undefeated seasons were expected, Richard Montgomery never had a home playoff game – due to the fact that in the 1960’s, State Playoffs were not yet a thing. In 1981, Richard Montgomery football’s lone State Title winning season, RM again did not have a home playoff game. In 2001, the RM football team that was a State Semi Finalist also did not have a home playoff game.

In 2015, history at RM has been made. For the first time in the Rockets’ football history, there will be a home playoff game. Coach Klotz, in his third season at RM, led the Rockets to a 9-1 regular season, and secured home field advantage with a second place finish in Class 4A West. RM will face Northwest on Friday, a chance to avenge the only defeat the Rockets suffered this season.

The original Mr. RM, Coach John Fahrner, was there for it all. He was a part of the dominant teams of the Roy Lester age, and is witness to the return of RM football in 2015. When the Rockets take the field Friday night, it is not any old football game. It is the first playoff game in a decade, and the first ever home playoff game.

Here’s what it means to Coach Fahrner:

As a kid growing up in Rockville, I grew up with 10-0 teams. Year after year, the best teams in Montgomery County, year after year.
As a player in 1968, the varsity was 10-0 when I was playing ball for Richard Montgomery. We were 10-0 and ranked number 3 in the country.
Then we had a run in 2000, 2001, 2002, when we were 10-1, 8-1. Then we went 7-3 and 7-3 with playoff games. Then it all stopped. We couldn’t win anymore, we couldn’t put anything together, could not make the playoffs.
So we’ve waiting so long to wake up the echoes of the past. We just woke up the echoes of the past.
My guys are now calling me – my alumni – ‘what’s going on coach, 9-1. It feels normal again, feels right again.’
That’s what Richard Montgomery Rocket football means. We are the best, we are one of the best, we’re always one of the best.
Welcome to the playoffs.

It will be a rematch for the Rockets against their only loss on the year. RM endured a 90-minute lightning delay at Northwest on October 9, only to then endure their worst start of the season. The first five offensive plays, RM had a fumble, a pick, and a snap into the end zone for a safety. The hole dug by the Rockets was too much to climb out of, and despite winning the second half 12-7, the Rockets ultimately fell 29-12.

“No matter what happens tomorrow night, we are normal again,” Coach Fahrner said. “Richard Montgomery football is back.”