RAPID RIVER — The Rapid River Rockets overcame the opening night jitters here Friday in a 40-22 eight-player football triumph over the Engadine Eagles.

Taj Cavanaugh rushed for 176 yards, and Carter Johnson caught five touchdown passes in the Great Lakes Eight Conference, East Division opener.

“The kids were nervous and had quite a few dropped passes,” said Rockets’ coach Jack Smith. “I was also nervous going in as a first-time head coach, but it worked out all right. Engadine has a super fast kid, but our defense stood tall, and the guys did what we asked them to do. Although, he got outside on us and scored a couple times.”

Blake Lundquist hit 15-of-25 passes and threw for five scores for the Rockets, who host Rudyard Friday.

“We had 12 kids with multiple tackles,” said Smith. “This was a good benefit for us. We got the win and saw what we needed to work on. We started a little shaky but came together as a team.”