Wayback Wednesday: Rockets topple Comets to advance to 3A title game

Unity linemen Logan Sehie and Tyler Crowl point the way toward Memorial Stadium in Champaign where the Rockets will be playing on November 23. The Rockets defeated the Comets at home 56-21 advancing to the Class 3A championship game. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Rockets' Mitch Negangard runs through the game banner before the start of Unity's playoff game against the Greenville Comets on November 17, 2012. The 6'-1", 205-lb hard-hitting senior led the team during the season with 59 tackles heading into the title game.

Photo: PhotoNews Media


Greenville's Cameron Walker finds running room through the Unity defense in the first quarter of their semifinal playoff game.

Photo: PhotoNews Media


 

Left: Rockets' Micah Johnson tries to pull away from a Greenville tackler during second-quarter action. Johnson, who averaged 5.9 yards per carry, scored 14 TDs heading into the title game. Right: Unity's Mitch Negangard heads into the Greenville secondary during a second-quarter play. After the game, Negangard's season statistics boasted an impressive 947 yards on 94 carries with 12 touchdowns. Photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

After weaving his way past Greenville's Kerry Patrich and Dalton Kuhn, Unity's Justin Deters finds plenty of open grass through the Comets' defense in the second quarter. After his team's 13th game of the seaon and 183 carries, Deter's had amassed 1,272 rushing yards for the Rockets.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Mitch Negangard dives into the end zone for a touchdown in the second quarter. Negangard scored twice as the Rockets during the 2012 semifinal.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Unity defense end Jared Abrahamson blows by Brett Mueller while playing defense in the first half.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Unity head coach Scott Hamilton gets his team's postgame victory celebration going after beating Greenville at Hicks Field. The Rockets played their final game of the season just 11 miles to the north at Memoral Stadium against Aurora Christian for the Class 3A title.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


2012 Season Schedule

Date Opponent W/L Own Opp
*8/24 Macon (Meridian)    W    59     6
*8/31 Maroa (M.-Forsyth)    W     7     6
*9/7 Moweaqua (Central A & M)    L    41    47
*9/14 Argenta (A.-Oreana)    W    29    26
*9/21 Sullivan [S.-Okaw Valley Coop]    W    49    20
*9/28 Decatur (St. Teresa)    W    49    21
*10/5 Monticello    W    18    14
*10/12 Clinton    W    47    28
*10/19 Shelbyville    W    50    12
*10/27 Pana (H.S.)    W    46     8
*11/3 Pleasant Plains    W    22     7
*11/10 Williamsville    W    10     7
*11/17 Greenville    W    56    21
*11/23 Aurora Christian    L    12    42


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