MUSKEGON — Reeths-Puffer had a tough week leading into Saturday's non-conference game against Grandville. Two tough O-K Green Conference defeats left the Rockets all but out of the league title race, and it was a mental test to bounce back for a non-league opponent that has struggled this year, scoring only three goals all season.
The Rockets, though, did what they were supposed to do, not only shutting out Grandville but doing so without allowing a single shot on goal in an impressive 5-0 win.
R-P coach Kody Harrell noted that as with most non-league games at this point in the season, he was moving players around to test some different lineups for the district tournament, which made the team's defensive work even more remarkable.
"It was huge, honestly, because not only were we able to get to have a defensive performance like that, but it was while taking what I would consider has been the heartbeat of our defense and moving them in different positions around the field," Harrell said. "Other guys stepped up in that defensive performance to also give us, not just a clean sheet, but zero shots on goal. It was nice seeing where I could be more creative with our lineup and our rotation and our formation, because other guys stepped up defensively."
Perhaps because of those lineup tweaks, the Rockets (6-5-3) did take a bit to get going, not scoring a goal for the first 26 minutes of play, but in the 27th, they found the net when foreign exchange student Paco Garcia-Baquero battled through traffic and scored the game's first goal. Evan McHugh followed with two long-range bombs for goals in the first half, taking advantage of the skill that has made him the Rockets' kicker in football.
Reeths-Puffer's Kam David connects on a shot for a rebound goal while Brayden Mackie looks on for Grandville during Saturday's game. The Rockets dominated in a 5-0 win.
"We give him full range," Harrell said. "I think he's just constantly getting more confidence to take shots from further out. His athleticism is what creates goals for us in the box, and then now he's got a hell of a leg on him too. He's very coachable.
"Kicking a football is a different technique than kicking a soccer ball, too, so it's really all the information he's getting, and to do it at full speed, he's just been really impressive."
McHugh said he practices those long shots, but feels like he is more successful with them in game situations with the adrenaline flowing. He added that the Rockets' success holding possession in the midfield was a major reason they were able to keep Grandville off the board.
"It's a credit to the defense," McHugh said. "We've had great defense all year. I think a big part of the game was we were able to possess in the midfield, which allowed us to keep pressure off the defense for a lot of the game."
In the second half, R-P showed the ability to score in different ways. Kam David hustled to the goal to put in a rebound shot after the Grandville keeper made an impressive save on another attempt, and Matthew Hansen provided the final goal after Landon Nash made a perfect pass up the field to set him up.
It's that versatility that has the Rockets optimistic heading into a district that could produce a rematch of last year's thrilling final against Cedar Springs. (Sparta is hosting the district.)
Reeths-Puffer's Matthew Hansen follows the flight of a kick as Tate Lauka tries to get in the way for Grandville during Saturday's game. Hansen scored a goal in the Rockets' 5-0 win.
"I talk about, the more film they get, the better they'll be, and that was one of the things we talked about in (Friday's) film session when we were looking at our game from Shores Thursday night," Harrell said. "It was nice to get the win, get the clean sheet, get five goals, all those little things, but it wasn't just what we did. It was how we did it. How we scored those rebound goals, that was very pleasant to see the boys being coachable and doing what we talked about and being successful."
The team's hot start to 2025 put it closer to competing for an O-K Green title this year than in the previous two seasons that this alignment of the league has existed. While the Rockets aren't a moral-victory program, McHugh said it was impressive, given all the production that graduated from the 2025 team, that the Rockets have been this competitive in one of the higher-tier conferences in West Michigan.
"We definitely felt like we left a little bit on the table with some of these (games) this week, but we can't be too mad, especially graduating so many guys," McHugh said. "Keeping so many guys this year is going to be (great). I'm really excited for next year."
This year, though, remains top of mind for McHugh and the Rockets. He said the team will be focused on continuing to control the ball well in the midfield, which will help set up goals.
"Just to keep staying productive and scoring," McHugh said. "We've struggled with that a lot. You can't win if you don't score. Our defense is going to keep us in games, but (it's going to be about) shooting and scoring."
