- Cedar Grove-Belgium, Head Coach: Dan Schreurs; 2021 season record: 9-2 (6-1)
A dominant 2021 season for the Rockets came crashing down to earth sooner than expected with a 31-14 loss in the second round of the WIAA playoffs to Saint Mary Springs.
The team’s offense was exceptionally brilliant in 2021, averaging 37.3 points per game, nearly 4,500 yards of total offense, and 57 total touchdowns (28 rushing, 29 passing). This success was further accentuated by Sam Peiffer winning the 2021 Al Toon Award, given to the best senior wide receiver in the state. Peiffer caught 96 passes for 1,404 yards (14.6 per catch) and 15 touchdowns.
The team’s second leading receiver, running back Gabe Egan, who is a senior this year, had just about half those numbers, and was also rushing season last year with 684 rushing yards on 75 carries and 8 rushing touchdowns. This leaves the Rockets in good hands offensively despite having to answer the question of starting quarterback due the 2021 team’s signal caller Logan Arrowood graduating. It will be interesting to how the offense is managed depending on whether senior Colton Sellin or junior Matt Peiffer sees the bulk of offensive snaps as Sellin hasn’t thrown passes since his freshmen year in 2019 and Peiffer has only one pass thrown, which came last season.
The Rockets also lost a lot linemen and defensive players from last year’s team to graduation. In fact, nine members of the senior class played some role on defense. A lot of kids will have to step up because if 2021 is an indication, where all but one team in the Big East Conference averaged 16 points or more per game, the Rockets offense alone might not carry them to a 6-1 conference this season like they had in 2021.
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