EDDYVILLE — It’s what every player who has ever buckled a chin strap dreams of. The reason players go through training camp and two-a-day practices. It’s why they play the game of football. It’s for the dream of becoming a champion. And the Eddyville-Blakesburg Rockets are one step closer.

Led by head coach Eric Kellar, the Rockets have once again made the state playoffs. It’s a position Kellar, who has coached at E-B for 10 years, is somewhat familiar with.

Kellar has led the Rockets to the playoffs two times before as a head coach. In 2002 he and the Rockets were beaten out in the opening round. In 2003 however, Kellar and E-B advanced to the quarterfinals before being sent home.

After winning their substate game last Wednesday night against Northeast Goose Lake, 44-28, the Rockets will get their chance at revenge against the seventh-ranked West Branch Bears.

The Rockets (7-3) met West Branch (10-0) in week three of regular season play. It was a game that didn’t go in E-B’s favor.

The Rockets were downed by the Bears, 56-28.

“We just didn’t show up in the first half,” said Rockets head coach Kellar. “In the second half, things clicked mentally, and we were able to outscore them.”

The 28 points the Rockets were able to score are the most points West Branch has given up all season.

The Rockets have generated somewhat of a two-back offense, pounding the rock with two senior standouts, Jacob Batterson and Dimitri Boyer.

Batterson, who has rushed for 1071 yards and 17 touchdowns this season was held to 74 yards, and wasn’t able to find the end zone all night. Boyer was held to 24 yards during the contest and was also kept out of the endzone.

West Branch has been the only team this season who hasn’t allowed Batterson to reach pay-dirt.

“We’re going to take what they give us,” said Kellar. “If they key on Batterson we’ll run some counter and trap plays with Boyer.”

West Branch’s offense consisted mainly of one player and one play.

Cole Kelly, who ranks fourth in Class 1A rushing with 1468 yards, and is in a three way tie for rushing touchdowns with 20, led West Branch’s offense with 182 yards and two touchdowns.

“They’re huge upfront,” said Kellar. “They run behind offensive lineman Rummells 80 percent of the time.”