R-B’s rush too tough for Winnebago

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WINNEBAGO –  Richmond-Burton’s Chad O’Kane thought he had broken free for a touchdown.

The Rockets’ senior running back broke off a run on the left side of the Richmond 28-yard line with less than 30 seconds left in the half, attempting to answer a Winnebago touchdown.

Indians defenders ultimately caught up with O’Kane at the Indians’ 10-yard line, but the damage already was done. The run stopped Winnebago’s momentum and led Richmond-Burton to a 35-16 win Friday night in a Big Northern Conference crossover matchup.

“The [defender] was a little far behind to cut back. I wasn’t sure what to do,” O’Kane said of his run. “But we came out in the second half and put it to them.”

O’Kane’s 102 rushing yards on seven carries were part of a Rockets rushing attack that racked up 400 total yards on 40 carries. Running backs Kenneth Riordan (15 rushes, 144 yards, two touchdowns) and Justin Russell (11 rushes, 137 yards, one touchdown) combined with O’Kane to form a three-headed rushing attack.

“It’s tough; it’s pick your poison,” Winnebago coach Mark Helm said of R-B’s three backs. “You try and stop one thing, then they hit you with something else.”

The Indians scored first on a Marcus Posley’s 28-yard field goal with 8:28 left in the first quarter. 

The Rockets answered on their next possesion, a six-play, 80-yard touchdown drive capped by O’Kane’s 16-yard touchdown run with 5:50 left in the first that made it 7-3.