Todd Rose | Daily Press Rapid River’s Brad Taylor (center) cuts through Ontonagon defenders Friday in Rapid River.

RAPID RIVER — The Ontonagon Gladiators defeated the Rapid River Rockets 54-26 Friday night in Rapid River to open up 8-player football action for the 2021 season.

Ontonagon coach Tyler Thomas boiled the Gladiator’s victory down to solid execution.

“I thought we executed really well,” Thomas said. “It just goes to show if you practice hard, then you execute on the field come game day. I thought we did really good, so we just have to keep it going for next week. We’ve got to keep this momentum going, and hopefully, we’ll keep on going next week.”

Steve Graff drew first blood for the Gladiators just after two minutes into the first quarter with a 25-yard run to the endzone. Ontonagon followed with a two-point conversion to make it 8-0.

Rapid River answered back on their next drive with a bomb of a pass from Blake Lundquist to Carter Johnson to put the Rockets on the one-yard line. Rapid then got on the board with a quick sneak by Lundquist.

Again, the Gladiators would strike back with a barrage of scoring plays between the backfield pairing of Graff and quarterback Jaden Borseth.

“They had some good chemistry this year during camp, and last year they were the starters,” said Thomas about the duo. “It was Jaden’s first year of football last year, so he was kind of getting in the swing of the things, so it was kind of tough for him. This year, it’s like night and day. He’s just flying out there, and he’s making plays.

“And Steve, he’s one of the fastest kids in the U.P. I would say. When he gets in the open field, he’s good. So, I’m very excited to have those two as my backfield duo.”

The Rockets found the endzone three more times in the second half after going down 38-6 in the opening 24-minutes of play.

Evan Horwitz took one in on the ground while Lundquist and Johnson hooked up two more times through the air.

Lundquist ended the night 9-16 for 155 yards, with Johnson accounting for 103 of those yards on six catches.

Brad Taylor and Taj Cavanaugh led things in the rushing category with 160 and 120 yards respectively.

With only four seniors, the Rockets feature a young roster for the 2021 season.

“We’re a young team, and it’s one of those things where we’re going to keep improving,” said Rockets coach Steve Ostrenga. “I thought the first half we did some things offensively. We did some nice things offensively all night. I thought we improved defensively, so that’s where our focus has to be is improving defensively.”

Ostrenga commented that all around, the offense played well together.

“Our ends did a nice job,” he said. “Connor Kee ran some nice patterns, and I thought Blake did a nice job throwing the ball. Our line did a real nice job giving them time. So, it’s just a matter of cleaning things up.

“Damyn Smith (guard), Joey Smith (guard) and Mason Lippold at center I thought they did a nice job.”

Up next for the Rockets is a trip to the Copper Country to take on the Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes while the Ontonagon Gladiators play Ironwood at home. Both games will be played next Friday.