Rockford outlasted Grand Haven (3-4, 0-3 in OK Red) 27-21 in overtime to win their 6th straight game and improve to (6-1, 3-0 in the OK Red) on the season.

The Rams and Buccaneers quickly traded punts on their first two possessions right out of the gate, but Rockford then put together a scoring drive that carried into the 2nd quarter. The Rams used an 11-yard run by QB Landen Haney, a 10-yard pass from Haney to Spencer Andrus, and then a 13-yard run by Jake Sendzik to reach the Grand Haven 6-yard line. A few plays later Haney rolled out and hit Reid Martin in the corner of the end zone for a 1-yard TD and a 7-0 lead with 11:06 left in the 2nd.

After the teams once again traded punts, Grand Haven took over at their own 10-yard line. The Buccaneers used runs by RB Schaefer Thelen, QB Levi Overway, and RB Chase Pego to go 90 yards for a TD. The drive included a 13-yard run by Thelen, an 11-yard run by Overway, a 17-yard run by Pego, and then an 18-yard TD from Pego made it 7-7 with 1:18 left in the half.

After the half, Grand Haven’s first drive was capped with a 48-yard TD run by Thelen giving the Buccaneers a 14-7 lead with 9:08 left in the 3rd.

The Rams then used some deception on the kick return and Tyler Bradfield broke down the middle of the field all the way to the Grand Haven 36 yard line. Haney quickly threw a quick screen out to Andrus who took it 12 yards for a 1st down and Hunter Novak busted an 8-yard run to put Rockford at the Grand Haven 6 yard line. A few plays later Jake Sendzik ran it in from 1-yard out to tie the game 14-14 with 6:47 left in the 3rd.

The Buccaneers went 3 and out on their next drive, but were able to pick off Landen Haney near midfield on a Rams’ 3rd down pass about 15 yards down field. Grand Haven was faced with a 4th and short at the Rockford 40 a few plays later, they went for it, and converted on a 4-yard run by Thelen. Pego then ran up the gut for 13-yards and 10-yards to end the quarter with Grand Haven threatening at the Rockford 13-yard line. A few plays later Thelen ran it in from 2 yards out giving the Buccaneers a 21-14 lead with 10:48 left.

Rockford responded quickly with a wrap draw play to Jake Sendzik which resulted in a 23-yard gain and then Brandon McKellar took a dive play 40 yards to the house to tie the game 21-21 with 9:34 left in the game.

Late in the 4th Tyler Bradfield returned a punt from midfield to the Grand Haven 14-yard line setting up Rockford with a chance to win it in regulation. Grand Haven’s defense held strong on two consecutive run plays and then a false start followed making it 3rd a long from the 19. An incomplete forced a 36-yard field goal attempt by Quinn Nordin, which missed its mark and the game remained tied.

Grand Haven took over with a chance to make something happen, but a holding penalty on the first play of the drive eventually led to a punt and overtime.

Grand Haven started with the ball and made their way down to the 2-yard line with a 1-yard run by Pego, a 5-yard run by Thelen, and a short run by Overway around the outside where he was halted at the 2. The Bucs went for it on 4th and 2, but weren’t able to convert as the Rams stopped Thelen short.

On the very next play, the Rams handed it to Hunter Novak on a jet sweep and he took it around the corner into the end zone for the 10-yard game-winning TD run. The 27-21 win put the Rams into the playoffs and into sole possession of 1st place in the OK Red.