ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (Aug. 31, 2022) -- News and notes after Rocky River's 31-24 loss to Firelands on Aug. 26 and heading into the Pirates Friday home game against Valley Forge ...
GAME 2: Rocky River (0-2) worked its way back from an early 10-0 deficit and led 21-10 midway through the third quarter. But the Pirates could not hang on in the non-conference affair at Firelands Field. The host Falcons (1-1) won the game -- breaking a 24-24 tie -- with a 1-yard rushing touchdown with 10 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The final score marked the fifth tie and lead change of the game. ... Rocky River had previously been 7-0 all-time against the Falcons.
BUCS SCORE BULLET POINTS: The Double-R offense tallied 158 yards on the ground and 124 yards in the passing game (282 total). River scored two touchdowns through the air. Both were thrown by junior quarterback Julian Patti, and they marked the first two throwing scores of his career. Junior wide receiver Mack Massad caught one TD; senior tight end Stan Heluer caught the other. Massad finished with three receptions for 42 yards; he also logged two rushing attempts for 20 yards and kicked the 16th field goal of his career. ... Senior running back Johnny Bebie carried the pigskin 24 times for 121 yards. He was responsible for the Pirates' lone rushing score.
TACKLE BOX: Senior Aiden Andracko (12 tackles), sophomore Josh Mommers (12), and sophomore Ben Bogre (11) were River's top tacklers on the evening. Borge led the squad with seven solo stops. ... Junior Trent Delventhal added 8T; he now has 26 stops through just two games. ... Andracko registered two run stuffs; the Pirates had five as a team. Rocky River did not record a quarterback sack.
PILING UP POINTS: With his receiving TD, field goal, and three extra points, Massad had a 12-point game at Firelands and has now scored 133 points in his career. He is now within 15 points of being in the program's all-time career top-10 for points. ... The Swiss Army Knife senior also booted three punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line. He has five such kicks already this season, and the program record -- set by Braedon Spies last season -- is 12.
RUN, RIVER, RUN: The Pirates rushed for 5,4 yards per carry at Firelands, more-than-doubling their Week 1 average of 2.5 YPC.
ON DECK: Rocky River will host Valley Forge in the program's 106th home opener on Friday. The Sons of Blackbeard will be seeking a bit of retribution for a one-point loss to the Patriots a year ago (VF 30, RR 29 -- Sept. 2, 2021). The Pirates let a 21-0 first-half lead slip away in that contest, which was played at Byers Field in Parma, Ohio.
PATRIOT-IC TREND: With its 2021 rally, Valley Forge has won three of the last four meetings between these two schools. Rocky River defeated the Patriots, 33-20, in the 2020 season finale, but Valley Forge took the meetings in 2019 and 2018. River is 4-3 in its seven-game all-time series against the Patriots. Its three losses have been by a combined five points.
THE GRIDIRON IN THE HEART OF RIVER: The Pirates have won their last 11 home openers. Rocky River has not lost a home opener since 2010.
by Skip Snow
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