Fans welcome home Rockets

Richmond-Burton football players Andrew Straight (left) and Jack Dechow (right) hold up the IHSA Class 4A football state runner up trophy with teammates Sunday during a celebration of the team’s season at Richmond Burton High School. (Brett Moist – For the Northwest Herald)

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RICHMOND – Fans and community members rallied around the Richmond-Burton Rockets football team, providing a welcome sure to take the sting out of a tough loss in the IHSA Class 4A state championship game.

More than 100 people packed the high school’s gym Sunday to greet the team. It was a celebration of the Rockets’ four-year journey.

R-B lost to Rochester, 42-39, Friday night. The Rockets fell behind, 14-0, in the first 5 minutes and trailed by 19 points in the third quarter, but they kept pounding away.

R-B finally ran out of time, turning the ball over on downs at the Rochester 32 with 13 seconds left in the game. The Rockets, however, earned respect for the way they battled back.

Several school and civic leaders gave speeches, and parents clamored for group photos of the team, the cheerleaders and the coaches. Sunday’s rally provided a fitting conclusion to the season, said Richmond-Burton principal Tom DuBois.

“It was a nice way to give this particular event some closure and to thank so many of the people who made this organization successful,” he said.

Spring Grove Village President Mark Eisenberg, who serves as the voice of the Rockets, credited the team with bringing the communities of Richmond and Spring Grove closer. He called team members “role models” and a “source of inspiration for future Rockets.”

R-B (12-2) set the Class 4A championship game record with 514 rushing yards. Fullback Jack Dechow set the 4A title game rushing record with 244 yards.

The team had the most wins in school history during a season that won’t soon be forgotten.

“Your accomplishment will echo throughout these school hallways and inside that trophy case for seasons to come,” District Superintendent Dan Oest told the players.

Coach Pat Elder, a transplant to the area, thanked everyone from the boosters and fans to the cheerleaders and the wives of the coaching staff.

“[I’m] very proud to call this place home,” he said.

The rally provided some salve for the players.

“It just felt good,” 17-year-old linebacker Zach Ignatowicz said. “Even though we lost, they still support us. This is something I will remember for the rest of my life.”

His teammates agreed.

“It’s awesome. We have really good community support,” Dechow said. “I wouldn’t have wanted to grow up anywhere but Richmond.”

All that support sets high expectations for 2012, said junior Matt Malecki, the team’s quarterback.

“It gives us a boost for next year,” he said. “It shows how much the community cares about us. We’ve got a lot to live up to next year.”

SBlt Joe Stevenson contributed to this report.