Willow Run beats River Rouge in overtime; qualifies for playoffs for first time since 1981
Willow Run's Desmond Brown avoids a group of River Rouge defenders during the Flyers' 22-21 overtime victory.
Joe Sharp | Special to AnnArbor.com
He converted the extra point.
The kick gave the Flyers a 22-21 win over River Rouge on homecoming and put Willow Run into the MHSAA playoffs for the first time since 1981.
Willow Run won the game despite a second half offensive effort that would be devastating in any other game. Consider the Flyers' third and fourth quarters: 30 yards of total offense, one first down, a fumble on their own goal line, a safety, and only 13 offensive plays.
Throw in a fumble on the first snap of the game and you have a situation that most teams don’t recover from.
That Willow Run (5-1) hung on to force overtime is owed to its defense, which stopped River Rouge on four different trips inside the Flyer 20-yard line throughout the game, including three straight tries from the 1-yard-line as the clock ticked down to the end of regulation.
“Our defense persevered,” Willow Run coach Rufus Pipkins said. “(River Rouge) got rolling in the third and fourth, but we held on.”
Comments
YPboyWRheart
Sat, Oct 2, 2010 : 11:08 a.m.
Small squad, BIG heart! 22 kids who refuse to lose. Rouge was bigger & faster but the Flyers stopped them on the goal line time and time again because the Flyers refuse to lose. Great student body, happy people everywhere, and FLYER PRIDE is restored!
flyerpride01
Sat, Oct 2, 2010 : 8:41 a.m.
Phile excellent job again you need a raise...game of the week in washetnaw county...Again Rufus Pipkins has the edge one coach of the year in washetnaw..next step is hosting a playoff game..Theres much work left to be done..great job flyers..who's house?...Runs house!!!