Groves high school had only scored 73 points in six games this season. On Friday night they put 80 on the Royal Oak Raven scoreboard while the home team could only muster 59 in the offensive storm.
The Falcons picked up their second win of the season - the other was by forfeit - and now stand 2-5 while Royal Oak falls to 1-6. Ravens head coach Ryan Irish took the blame for the lack of defensive effort for his team.
"I'm truly embarrassed," the first year head coach said. "Eighty points on the football scoreboard - that's a basketball score. Apparently, I'm not doing and my staff are not doing the job to teach tackling and our special teams were horrendous."
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Big plays again hurt the Ravens giving up two kickoff returns for touchdowns and multiple touchdowns on the ground from 58, 65 and 70 yards for Groves. Overall, Royal Oak gave up 392 rushing yards and 221 passing yards to the Falcons. Ross Williams had 209 yards on 18 carries for Groves while quarterback Nick Kizy completed 7-11 passes for 221 yards and four touchdowns.
Royal Oak's Justin Unger had 19 carries for 237 yards and scored five touchdowns on the night. Marcio Foster had 102 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns.
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The Ravens had 437 yards rushing on the night and 133 yards passing.
Irish said there are plans to play next Saturday against Country Day but the details are still being finalized. The regular season game for next week was supposed to be against Andover but they are not fielding a team due to lack of interest and their school being consolidated next season. Royal Oak will receive a forfeit win.
Royal Oak started its first drive with a touchdown run by Unger to cap a six-play, 52-yard drive. But the kickoff was returned by Groves - 93 yards - and they took an 8-7 lead on the two point conversion.
The two teams kept trading the lead - RO 14 - Groves 8 - then Groves 15 - RO 14 - in the first half. With 2:21 officials halted the game for a lightning delay of 30 minutes. The Ravens came out and put together a 10 play, 56-yard drive to retake the lead 20-15 but the Falcons scored quickly on an 80-yard run to retake the lead, 21-20.
The Ravens got back on top putting together a four-play, 71 yard drive with the PAT to jump back into the lead at 27-21. By halftime, Groves had put together two more scores to Royal Oak's one to sit on top 41-28.
The Ravens got within three points - 50-47 with 5:45 left in the third quarter but Groves kept pouring on the offense and its defense stiffened to eventually ride out the 80-59 win.
"We'd score a touchdown and then the next play they'd take it and score," Irish said. "We've got to get better fundamentally. When you put 59 on the scoreboard you're supposed to win. They didn't so much beat us that we kind of gave them one. We didn't play football but give credit to them, they played hard."
