Remsen-Union's football team - ranked eighth in Eight-man - got a wake up call on Friday night when the Rockets traveled to Graettinger-Terril and were handed a 16-8 loss.

Although the defense handled the Knights' strong rushing game, R-U struggled to capitalize when in the red zone. The Rockets made three trips inside G-T's 20-yard line and could not find a way to punch the ball into the end-zone in the first half.

(Advertisement)

The Knights had more success as they scored on their first trip downfield as they finished the drive with a 25-yard scoring run to go ahead 6-0. A two-point conversion put the hosts on top 8-0.

Unfortunately for both squads, neither team was able to muster up any more scoring chances as the teams headed into the locker rooms with G-T clinging to an 8-0 lead.

However, just a few minutes into the third quarter, the Knights punched in it again from just 14-yards out on a touchdown that proved to be the difference in the game.

The Rockets found the way to answer back to one of G-T's touchdowns as quarterback Josh Bohnenkamp hooked up with receiver Colin Sonnichsen for a 55-yard touchdown strike. Unfortunately it proved to be too little too late as the Knights finished the upset and sent R-U home with its first loss of the season.

Bohnenkamp finished 5-11 passing for 128 yards and a touchdown. Jon Schreiner was 2-6 for 12 yards. Both quarterbacks were intercepted once.

Kraig Alesch racked up 114 of the Rockets' 254 yards on the ground on 17 attempts in the game. Sonnichsen had four grabs for 114 yards and score. Cody Leonard had one catch for 16 yards while Will Pierson grabbed two passes for 17 yards.

The Knights - a strong running option team - finished with 312 total yards but 274 of those came in the running game on 58 plays.

"They are mainly an option running team. They played a lot like we do," said R-U's Colin Youde. "They are a big strong physical team that did a nice job of getting a nice push up front."

Ryan Schroeder was a beast on the defensive side of the ball as he finished with a team-high 18 1/2 tackles in the game. Fellow lineman Michael Ruba contributed 12 while both players recorded fumble recoveries.

Also on the defensive side of the ball, Schreiner finished with nine total tackles while Bohnenkamp and Ryan Kunkel had had seven and a half tackles. Brad Hodgen recorded the Rockets' one interception.

"We were in the red zone three times in the first half and we came away with no points," said Youde. "Our defense did a nice job of holding a good football team to just 16 points. Offensively, we just need to put the ball into the end-zone and we couldn't get it done."

The Rockets will see an unfamiliar foe this Friday as they welcome Charter Oak - Ute for their homecoming game. The Bobcats were in R-U's district two years ago but the teams have not squared off since.

"I do know that they have started the year 0-2," said Youde. "Other than that, I really don't know much about them."