Rock Falls loses homecoming, but grows stronger through adversity

ROCK FALLS – Homecoming was a bittersweet swirl of emotions on Friday for Rock Falls students and fans.

North Boone won the game 31-22. While the final score wasn’t inconsequential, it’s not the most important thing going on for the Rockets.

The healing continues.

During the pregame ceremony, the school launched balloons to honor the memory of lineman Brock Parker, who died on Sept. 24 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident Sept. 17.

The team’s coach, Kevin Parker, returned. He went out to midfield for the coin flip, though in-game coaching duties remained with the assistants.

Just his presence at practices later in the week and on the sidelines was welcome, said Anthony Adamson, the team’s offensive coordinator.

“For him to be out, still battling with our kids – that means the world to us,” Adamson said.

Rock Falls played with purpose and was competitive for three quarters. Learning to cope with adversity has become a galvanizing element.

“There are things that happen in your life you can’t plan for,” Adamson said. “It hurts deeply. Losing a family member. We’ve come together. Seeing our team grow together. All you can do is rally around each other.”

In the end, North Boone won this Big Northern Conference game by executing short passes with precision and poise. North Boone improved to 3-4 and is still in the playoff hunt.

Chandler Alderman, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound junior, took over as quarterback after the first series and soon established his control of the game.

Alderman passed for three touchdowns, and had 18 completions for 203 yards.

North Boone opened scoring in the first with a 6-yard pass from Jack Christensen, who started at QB.

Rock Falls answered at 3:53 of the first when Austin Castaneda caught a 25-yard throw from Easton Canales.

That’s when Alderman came in to do his work, hitting his favorite targets, Will and Chris Doetch.

Will Doetch ended up with 13 receptions for 134 yards. Chris Doetch had 6 catches for 69 yards.

A 10-yard pass to Will Doetch at 8:16 of the second made it 14-7. Then a 31-yard pass play to Chris Doetch at 4:37 added to the lead.

Rock Falls punched back. Booker Cross ran 22 yards to the outside for a touchdown with 44 seconds left in the second quarter. That made it 21-14.

Chris Doetch scored again, a 10-yard pass play with 11 seconds to go into half, putting North Boone up 28-14.

At 9:08 of the third quarter, Cross scored again for Rock Falls, a 23-yard touchdown run. He added the two-point conversion to make it 28-22.

In the fourth quarter, Dumar Bernal kicked a 20-yard field goal at 9:48 to put North Boone up by the final margin.

Cross ended up with 174 rushing yards. He also completed a 29-yard pass play out of the backfield to Audric Thomas.

Also for Rock Falls, Kaleb Bull rushed for 35 yards.

Rock Falls, which fell to 1-6, is at Oregon next week. North Boone is at Winnebago.