Payback time for CG-Belgium

This was the year. Legendary Bob Hyland isn’t the football coach for St. Mary’s Springs High School for the first time since Richard Nixon was president, and Cedar Grove-Belgium was more than happy to be the Ledgers’ Watergate last Friday.

The No. 2-seeded Rockets knocked off the No. 3 Ledgers, 40-7, at home in a Division 6 level 2 playoff game.

“That was a win for all the teams in the past that got their seasons ended by them,” coach Rockets’ Dan Schreurs said. “That’s kinda special. I was getting a lot of texts from former players.”

Griffin Knight caught eight passes and scored two touchdowns, recovered two fumbles and intercepted two passes.

Carter Schmitz went 18-for-22 passing for 191 yards and three scores. Schreurs said he overheard that Schmitz had more passing yards and touchdowns than the top two quarterbacks in the Ledgers’ conference combined.

Ira Hilbelink ran 19 times for 57 yards and a touchdown. Austin Knapp ran 11 times for 37 yards and caught six passes for 54 yards. Some of those were on shovel passes that are more like runs, Schreurs said.

The Rockets stuffed the Ledgers’ option rushing attack, holding them to 45 yards.

“We got to the quarterback every single time. The defense was lights out,” Schreurs said.

The Rockets won the field position game thanks to kicker Noah Peterson. He had six touchbacks on eight kickoffs, and he clocked a 62-yard punt. He also hit a 40-yard field goal, and Landon Altheimer made a 30-yarder.

Linebacker Josh Anzia had 10 tackles.

The Rockets led, 20-7, at halftime and knew the Ledgers always make adjustments. The Rockets countered accordingly.

“We did well in pretty much every aspect. No turnovers, very few penalties,” Schreurs said.

The last time the Rockets played the Ledgers in the playoffs they lost, 31-14, in 2021. The Ledgers ran behind offensive lineman Billy Schrauth, who now starts for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and is a team captain.

“They didn’t have that (this time) and we could see that,” Schreurs said. “There was blood in the water. This is the year we could go after them. This was an opportunity to do something that nobody in the Rockets’ football program has ever done, and that’s take it to Springs.”

It was still something to witness for the coach with the most victories in the history of Rockets’ football.

“If you would have told me we’d have our junior varsity in during the fourth quarter against Springs, I would have told you we’d be dreaming,” Schreurs said.

The Ledgers finished 7-4.

Hyland retired after last season, coaching 54 years and racking up a state record 522 victories.

Now, the Rockets (7-4) get a crack at more revenge. They play at top-seeded Manitowoc Lutheran on Friday. The undefeated Lancers beat the Rockets, 47-14, in Cedar Grove on Sept. 12 in a game that decided the Big East Conference.

“My guys are very, very eager for this game. They know we did not play well. That was one of the worst games I’ve seen my team come out and play,” Schreurs said.

“We are definitely playing some very, very good football right now. We haven’t peaked yet.”