Burlington Central falls to 0-3
BYRON -It was more of the same for Burlington Central. Penalties and special teams miscues plagued the Rockets in a 17-9 loss to Byron in a Big Northern crossover in Byron.
The Rockets grabbed a 9-0 lead in the second quarter, but couldn't maintain the momentum in a steady rainfall.
Burlington had a final chance to tie, but Kyle Smith picked off Tim Maroder's pass at the Byron 5-yard line with 5 seconds to play.
Neither team was immune from mistakes in the wet weather. In the second quarter, Kyle Smith dropped back to punt from his own 32-yard line. But the snap sailed high over his head and out of the end zone for a safety.
Maroder returned the ensuing free kick 53 yards, setting the Rockets up at the Tigers' 18. Maroder hit Kevin Kellish on a fade route to the 2, and Maroder took it in himself on the next play. Tim Vincent's extra point put Burlington ahead 9-0, but that was it for the Rockets.
The Rockets were penalized 8 times for 68 yards, as holding penalties negated some big plays. They also muffed a punt that set up the go-ahead touchdown.
"We had the momentum (in the first half), then we come out in the second half and commit another penalty," said Rockets' coach Aaron Wichman. "It's hard to build momentum when you keep shooting yourself in the foot."
On the next possession after the Rockets' touchdown, the Tigers drove 70 yards in 16 plays to get on the scoreboard before halftime. Quarterback David Boyle took it in himself from a yard out.
In the third quarter, the Rockets muffed a punt at their own 14-yard line, giving the Tigers great field position. They needed just 6 plays to score, the last of which was Andrew Smith's 1-yard plunge.
Byron tacked on a Devon Pace field goal for the final margin.
The Rockets had their chances. They reached the Byron 1-yard line in the first quarter, but a bad handoff exchange on fourth down stopped the drive.
Late in the game, Maroder pinned Byron at their 1-yard line with a perfectly placed punt. The defense held and an interference penalty on the ensuing punt gave the Rockets a first down at Byron's 15. They got to the 10, but Maroder's pass on fourth down fell incomplete.