The Westwood Rockets launched their 2025 football campaign with a commanding 28-6 victory over the Grundy County Yellow Jackets, demonstrating resilience and strategic execution in their sole non-conference game of the season. This decisive win, achieved on the road at Grundy County, set a strong precedent for the Westwood Rockets as they prepare for a challenging conference schedule.

Despite securing a significant win, the Westwood Rockets initially found themselves trailing, ceding six points to the Grundy County Yellow Jackets on their opening offensive drive. This early deficit, however, served as a catalyst for Westwood’s subsequent dominance, as they quickly regrouped to score 28 unanswered points, showcasing their defensive prowess and offensive adaptability.

Grundy County’s initial possession was a deliberate, clock-eating march downfield, consuming over six minutes and culminating in the game’s first score. Coach Mueller acknowledged this as a well-executed strategy by the Grundy County Yellow Jackets to keep Westwood’s offense off the field, admitting his team started flat and vowing to reexamine their pre-game preparations to ignite more “fire” in future matchups.

The Yellow Jackets attempted another lengthy drive, an eight-play series, but Westwood’s defense held firm, forcing a turnover on downs at midfield. This defensive stand allowed the Westwood Rockets to regain possession in favorable field position. As the first half concluded, Westwood maintained a comfortable 16-6 lead, a testament to their ability to adapt and control the gridiron football narrative.

The second half opened with a moment of adversity for the Westwood Rockets, a holding penalty pushing them back. However, this minor setback did not deter their offensive momentum. A crucial 44-yard scamper by Jones ignited the drive, followed by a seven-yard run by Shemwell, setting up Rodderick for a six-point touchdown, extending Westwood’s lead to 22-6, despite a failed two-point conversion. This team sports effort highlighted their ability to execute under pressure.

Even with a substantial lead, the Westwood Rockets defense remained tenacious. Grundy County mounted their longest drive of the game, starting deep in Westwood territory, but after 12 plays, the Yellow Jackets were contained at the 15-yard line, unable to convert. This sustained defensive effort underscored Westwood’s commitment to shutting down their opponents throughout the non-conference game.

Westwood’s next possession, straddling the third and fourth quarters, was their only scoreless drive, ending in a punt. However, the Grundy County Yellow Jackets again turned the ball over on downs in Westwood territory on their subsequent drive, allowing the Westwood Rockets to kneel twice and secure the 28-6 American football victory. Coach Mueller emphasized the non-conference game served its purpose, allowing them to iron out mistakes before focusing on Duck River Valley Conference play, starting next week at home against Fayetteville.