RAPID RIVER — Containing Joey Truitt was a challenge for Rapid River here Thursday night as it dropped a 52-12 football decision to Stephenson on Senior Night here Thursday.

The senior quarterback ran for four touchdowns and passed for another for the Eagles, who continued to take an uptempo approach and improve to 3-5 with their second straight victory.

“It has been a couple years since we won two in a row,” Eagles’ coach Logan Carlson said. “This is definitely a step forward. The uptempo game gives the guys who are unsure less time to think and tends to keep the opposing defenses off balance. Joey sure has some good footwork. With the uptempo we’re starting to get more in sync. We have some good and fast athletes. We’re young, but we’re coming together.”

Truitt rushed 23 times for 276 yards and completed 7-of-15 passes for 43 yards.

His 54-yard keeper off left tackle gave the Eagles a 20-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

The Rockets scored their first TD on sophomore Lane Olson’s 37-yard pass to senior Ethan Harrison with 3:03 remaining in the second stanza.

It took Stephenson just 13 seconds to answer as Truitt scored his second TD on a 59-yard dash through the left side for a 26-6 cushion.

With 1:53 left in the second, Olson connected again with Harrison on a 33-yard TD aerial, bringing the Rockets within 26-12.

Rapid River (2-6 had one more chance to score before halftime after Harrison recovered a fumble on its 48-yard line. The Rockets, however, were unable to convert.

“We played well,” Rockets’ coach Steve Ostrenga said. “We’re a young team. I’m happy with the way the guys hung in there and played hard till the end. It would have been huge to get that one in (the end zone). We were happy at halftime. We felt we had some momentum.”

The Eagles, however, scored on the opening drive in the third frame with Truitt giving them a 34-12 cushion on a one-yard keeper.

Truitt scored again on a one-yard run for a 40-12 advantage midway through the third and tossed a 10-yard TD pass to junior Lucas Havelka to make it 46-12 with 5:18 left in the contest.

The Eagles then executed an onside kick, recovered by junior Asher Priebe on their 48.

On the next play, Anderson ended the scoring on a 52-yard dash.

Senior Sam Spaude scored Stephenson’s first two TDs on a 15-yard aerial from Truitt and a 25-yard run off right tackle for a 14-0 lead on the last play of the opening frame.

Junior Dalton Berg led the Eagles on defense with seven tackles for losses.

Rapid River finished with 222 yards in total offense. Olson was 6-of-21 passing for 111 yards. Harrison was the Rockets’ top receiver with three receptions for 82.

“We had some nice runs and passes,” Ostrenga said. “We also had some guys open. Lane is coming into his own. Our seniors did well. I’m thankful for their leadership and to the kids for working hard.”

Stephenson finished with 546 yards, including 486 on the ground. Spaude gained 112 on 18 carries.

The Eagles host Brimley Friday and the Rockets meet Carney-Nadeau at North Central Friday or Saturday.