JERRY CITY – Virtually every time Elmwood’s offense needs a big play, it’s easy to see where the Royals
are headed.
Reid Rothenbuhler will be throwing to Adam Tyson.
And the pass usually is completed, resulting in a first down or a touchdown.
The talented seniors have formed one of the best passing combinations in the Suburban Lakes League.
Their next challenge comes Friday when the Royals host arch-rival Eastwood in the annual "Battle of
the Woods."
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
Rothenbuhler has completed 112-of-204 passes for 1,327 yards and 12 touchdowns – with almost a third of
the completions going to Tyson. The wide receiver has 34 catches for 414 yards and four TDs.
"It’s nice when you see one-on-one coverage out there and know you don’t have to look anywhere
else," Rothenbuhler said. "He’s such a phenomenal athlete. You just throw him the ball close
to him because you know he’s going to catch it."
"We read each other without thinking," Tyson said. "We know each other really well because
we’ve been playing sports together pretty much since the third grade."
The two also were effective last season when Rothenbuhler was the first-team quarterback and Tyson was a
second-team receiver on the All-SLL team.
Rothenbuhler – the latest in a long line of quality quarterbacks at Elmwood – was 156-of-276 for 1,921
yards and 17 touchdowns last season, with Tyson having 18 receptions for 252 yards.
"That’s real nice, knowing you have a receiver like him to go to," Rothenbuhler said. "It
takes a lot of pressure off of you and it gives you a lot of confidence."
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Rothenbuhler makes Elmwood’s spread offense go as he makes decisions at the line
of scrimmage about whether the team will run or pass. Rothenbuhler also is an excellent runner with 88
carries for 288 yards.
In addition to Tyson (6-2, 190), juniors Jack Waldock, Nate Wacek, Jay Hannah and T.J. Waldock have
combined for 79 receptions, good for 906 yards and nine touchdowns.
"He’s a lot more mature this year and he understands how to run our offense even more this
year," Elmwood coach Vic Meyer said of Rothenbuhler.
Elmwood’s passing offense makes for an interesting match against Eastwood’s defense, which has struggled
against the pass.
The Royals are averaging 295 yards per game this season, including an average of 198 yards in the air.
Eastwood is allowing 129 yards per game passing, including 12.9 yards per reception. The Eagles also
have been vulnerable to the big play.
Tyson and Rothenbuhler also start on defense. Tyson is the team’s leading tackler with 80 from his
outside linebacker spot. Rothenbuhler plays cornerback. They also play basketball in the winter and
baseball in the spring.
"They’re our leaders. They make the team go," Meyer said.
The two are on the field for approximately 150 plays every game. Tyson doesn’t play on the kickoff return
team, and the field goal and extra point teams. Rothenbuhler is on the bench when the Royals are kicking
off, returning a kickoff and punting.
"You don’t want to let the team down by taking a play off because that could give the other team a
big play," Rothenbuhler said. "You never go easy."
"The first few games, it’s real tiring but after that, your body adjusts," Tyson said.
"You play your way into that kind of shape, so that you’re used to it.
Elmwood’s been up and down this season.
The Royals are 3-4 overall and 2-1 in the league, putting them in the thick of the league race.
Second-ranked and two-time defending league champion Genoa (7-0, 3-0) leads the SLL, with Eastwood (6-1,
3-1), Lake (5-2, 3-1) and the Royals right behind.
Elmwood’s final three games are against Eastwood and Lake at home, and at Genoa.
"We’d like to finish as high as we can in the league and play hard, and get better and better every
week, no matter what happens," Tyson said.