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Pdflel10 THURSDAY,AUG.29,1985 j GRID SCENE '85 T r Rockets eye 3rd straight BEC crown R-B tries to win the numbers game in '85 By Sam Natrop Herald sports editor RICHMOND -- In his five years at Richmond-Burton High School, head football coach J. Randy Hof- man has become accustomed to having only 25 players on the roster. Hofman has also found out that an injury to any of the 25 players can totally confound offensive and de­ fensive depth charts. So imagine how Hofman felt the first day the Rockets put on pads for their first taste of full contac- t. . .and three players sustained injuries. Losing one-eighth of a team on the first day of contact might make some coaches run for the hills. Not Hofman, though. And not the Rockets. They'll bat­ tle you with 25, 21, 15 or even 11 players. Tliat's just their style. This year's version of Richmond- Burton football is similar to those in years past -- the numbers are down, but the enthusiasm and atti­ tudes are high. "You get used to it," Said Hof­ man, referring to the small roster count. "You have to limit your hit­ ting to once or twice during the pre­ season and you pray like the dick­ ens that nobody gets hurt." So far, nobody has injured them­ selves beyond repair, but there is one familiar face missing from the Rockets' pre-season workouts. "I don't know about Scotty. We won't know for sure for awhile," Hofman said. "Scotty" is standout two-way player Scott Christensen who has been plagued by inuries the last two years. As a sophomore; Christensen broke his leg in the first game of the year, and last year (his junior year) he had knee surgery midway through the season. He was lost to the Rockets for the playoffs -- the painful playoffs where R-B lost a 13-7 heartbreaker in the final minute to eventual state semi-finalist Marian Central. Hofman said he is hopeful Chris­ tensen will be available for the Big Eight Conference season pending a medical release late in August. When asked if the pain of that playoff loss still haunted the R-B practice field on opening day, Hof­ man replied, "To tell you the truth, I never gave it a thought, and I don't know if the kids returning did, either." To watch an R-B workout would give you the idea the Rockets had forgotten about that stunning No­ vember night. "The attitudes are great, as usu­ al. The kids are hustling, they're really working hard," Hofman said. "Every year is a rebuilding year up here with the numbers (of players) we get. This year is no different." The biggest gap Hofman will have to fill is at quarterback where Craig Komar performed so well the last two seasons. Vying for the signal- calling spot are senior Mike Dreher and junior Brad Miller. Dreher suf­ fered a sprained thumb early in the season, however. * * Returning in the Rocket backfield are seniors Mike Leli and Duke We­ ber along with junior Dennis Komar and senior linemen-turned-running backs Ed Seelandt and Troy Richmond-Burton lost the services of standout quarterback Craig Komar to graduation. The Rockets, however, will rely on either junior Brad Miller or senior Mike Dreher to call the signals. YOUR TAX-SAVING TUITION FUND. U.S. Savings Bonds GOOD LUCK! WOODSTOCK BLUE STREAKS & MARIAN CENTRAL HURRICANES New Tiempo N Radial Wkltawall Slza SALE PRICE He itay P185/80R13 $43.65 f IOU/ i * $45.45 P195/75R14 $49.50 P205/75R14 $53.85 P205/75R15 $54.75 P215/75R15 $57.55 P225/75R15 $59.40 P235/75R15 $63.15 Salt End* September 7 Whltawall Slza SALE PRICE NatraiM P165/75R13 P165/80R13 P175/75R13 P175/80R13 P1S5/80R13 P185/65R14 P175/75R14 P185/75R14 $54.00 $56.45 $57.10 $58.05 $58.95 $64.35 $59.25 $63.95 Arriva Radial WMtawall Slza SALE PRICE Matraia P195/75R14 $67.06 P205/75R14 $70.95 P215/75R14 $74.90 P195/75R15 $69.35 P205/75R15 - $73.76 P215/75R15 $77.00 P225/75R15 $80.45 P235/75R15 $84.15 Sale Ends S« itember 7 Vector Radial WMtawall Slza SALE PRICE MM P165/80R13 P175/80R13 P185/80R13 P175/75R14 P185/75R14 P195/75R14 $60.15 $61.95 $63.15 $63.45 $68.50 $71.80 WH^WaH SALE PRICE Nltry P205/75R14 P195/75R15 P205/75R15 P215/75R15 P225/75R15 P235/75R15 $76.05 $76.90 $78.95 882.60 $86.15 889.80 Sale Ends September 7 GOODYEAR BIAS-PLY Power Streak II $• 3160 A78-13 Whitewall With old me Whitewall Size Everyday Low Price With old tire B78-13 C78-14 D78-14 E78-14 F78-14 G78-14 $32.90 $35.20 $36.40 $37.20 $39.60 $43.05 Whitewall Size Everyday Low Price With old tire H78-14 $45.80 E78-15 $38.75 F78-15 $41.10 G78-15 $44.20 H 78-15 $46.50 L78-15 $48.85 SALE Blackwall Load PRICE Sb» Rang* No trad* naadad G78-15 C 859.95 H78-15 C 865.00 L78-15 C 867.50 800-165 D 869.95 875-165 D 875.00 950-165 D STIftt SAVE ON THIS LIGHT TRUCK TIRE FAVORITE! Tracker LT « *4995 700-14 Black wall toad Range 0 No trade needed • The strength of tempered, long-wearing nylon cord • The dependability of rugged bias-ply construction • Use on front or rear wheel drive vehicles Sale Ends September 7 1206 S. RTE. 47 WOODSTOCK, ILL. 338-4540 * r.oon'2vr/%n America's favorite way to save! : „ i f-- ' VrJ ' soi r̂f to CV*«e V - rzL holiday' tSfSS jg&SSTS1 3 GREAT BUYS ON ALL SEASON STEEL BELTED RADIALS! P1S5/80R13 Whitewall No trade needftd P155/80R13 Whitewall No trade needed P15V80R13 Whitewall No trade needed Steadman. Three key players will return to the offensive line for the defending BEC champions. Karl Eckardt, a 6- foot-3, 215-pound senior will returti at a tackle spot while Ron Kramer (5-9,170, senior) is an-incumbent it guard. « :• Split end Dave Johnson (6-0,175) brings his experience and his teaifi- leading 52 catches back to the Rock­ et attack. The remaining spots on the offen­ sive line will be divided up between Bryan Calliger, Tony Pryor, Ken Elliott, Buddy Metz and Bill Rabel- hofer. Hofman added Jeff Moore and Mike Smith "could see a lot of action." ' Miller was the team's placekicker as a sophomore and will handle those chores again this season. Ei­ ther Miller or Moore will be the punter. Defensively, the Rockets appear to be strong. "As a matter of fact, we have several guys back who know what's going on in the defen­ sive area and we haven't worked much defensively," Hofman said. "Our emphasis has been with the offense and getting that in gear." Kramer will return at one line­ backer spot and Dennis Komar will shift from linebacker to defensive back. Hofman said freshman Chris Steadman has been impressive in the early workouts and may see some action at the backer spot. Weber will return for his third year in the secondary, and Johnson, Metz and Gary Stilling (who is in­ jured) are also competing for DB slots. And as in past years, the sixth- year R-B mentor with a 44-5 record, said his team's opening game against Johnsburg may be a barom­ eter to the season's fortunes. "We'll know a lot more about our season after the Johnsburg game, We'll know then how good we'll be," he said. "When you play a school that has an enrollment of 770 (R-B has an enrollment of almost 200,; Hofman said), and you do welf against them, it's a positive sign. If we hold our own with them, it'll' answer some questions for us." *'• Last year, the Rockets posted a 16-7 victory over the Skyhawks. The Rocket schedule also features' a non-conference battle against Kirkland-Hiawatha and then the ' opening of the Big Eight season a t 1 Harvard on Sept. 13. "Harvard is going to be very good ' as are Genoa (Kingston) and Hamp­ shire," Hofman said. "It's going to be a very strong conference. Not too ; much will separate the top teams."J Which is why the Rockets need a fast start, he added. Dennis Boyson will coach the of-" fensive and defensive lines and Tom Carter will coach the sophomore team while R-B has a new coach in Keith Forth, who coached one year at Erie High School. Forth will as­ sist Carter. So, the Rockets prepare to blast toward a third BEC crown. And maybe more. LET'SALL BOOST THE RICHMOND ROCKETS In '85 RICHMOND (iimsint MOTOR I'li/mouth SALES Ron Bergsma 815/678-2011,678-4113 Flowers for Homecoming area Specialty at Mary Ellen Marunde, Prupritlo, »Tht ftunpXousc Dried, Silk.. Fresh Arrangements 15019 South Street Woodstock 338-4576 Lets Hope For Another Record Season This Year! GOOD LUCK! McHenry County's Most Complete Audio• Video Shop s | $