Boyne tops Hurons 33-25 in offensive show
The Hurons proved last week they could play with tough competition, and even come back from a deficit. This week they will try to build on that experience as they take on Alcona in the second of five straight road games. The Tigers are 0-2 after a 45-6 loss to AuGres (1-0) and a 40-16 loss to Newberry (1-1). Newberry lost 14-6 to Boyne City in week one. The Hurons have defeated Alcona each of the past three years by a combined score of 126-56. In the past 10 years the teams have tangled seven times with the only Tiger win coming in 2000, by a score of 26-6.
LAST FRIDAY, Rogers City came back after a Rambler score every time but the last one as time ran out on a 33-25 loss to Boyne City last Friday on the plush grass at the Boyne City High School sports complex. “Despite being young we can not only compete with the good teams, we can win. We need to take care of our running attack to do it,” said Huron head coach Mike Kosiara. The teams ran up nearly 850 yards of offense in a dazzling offensive show. Boyne ran, ran, and ran some more as six different runners combined for 453 yards on the ground.
“Our line play must dramatically improve so that we can run the ball and control the clock,” Kosiara said. “Boyne City had 64 offensive plays to our 38. It is difficult to win with a play ratio like that.” The Hurons stayed in the game via the big passing play. Junior quarterback Austin Fairbanks tossed four TD passes. Cody Wenzel caught TD passes of 55, 80, and 24 yards while Justin Wilbert had an 83-yard TD catch. The Huron running game never got on track. “I hope that is not a trend because it is difficult to win football games like that,” Kosiara said. “We love the quick strike capability. To win we need to run the ball and keep the ball out of our opponents’ hands.”
AFTER A Rambler score on the opening drive, the Hurons came back later in the first quarter with the first of four long scoring passes. Fairbanks hooked up with junior flanker Cody Wenzel, who ran a short curl pattern, spun, and left his defender grasping at air as he flew up the middle for a 55-yard TD. Wenzel’s extra-point kick tied the score at 7-7 with 39 seconds left in the first quarter. Boyne answered on its next possession marching 49 yards in five plays, capped by senior halfback Reed Ameel’s 29-yard run to take a 14-7 lead with 9:50 left in the half. Ameel would go on to rush 20 times for 258 yards before leaving with an injury in the third quarter. After a no-gain run, a sack and an incomplete pass, Wenzel’s 58-yard punt trapped Boyne at its own five-yard-line.
Then the Ramblers started a long march. They ran 15 plays, with just one wobbly incomplete pass mixed with 14 runs, to reach the Huron 11 yard-line with 1:34 on the clock. The drive had used more than eight minutes off the clock. Facing second-and-seven, junior quarterback Grant Ameel dropped back to pass and threw to the front left corner of the end zone where Huron safety Matt Tomas and the Boyne receiver each dove for the ball. With the back judge right on the spot, Tomas came up with an interception in the end zone to turn the tide.
ON THE NEXT play, with the ball brought out to the 20, Wenzel lined up as a wingback on the left side, took a swing pass from Fairbanks and darted untouched down the left sideline to the end zone, delivering a quick blow. The PAT kick failed, but the Hurons went into halftime trailing 14-13. The teams traded possessions in the third quarter until Boyne scored again, again using a dominating running attack capped by Reed Ameel’s five-yard TD run. The PAT kick made it 21-13 with 6:03 left in the third quarter. The score stayed that way until the Hurons inched closer. Again a great Wenzel punt rolled out of bounds at the Boyne two-yard-line. Three plays later the Ramblers were punting, and the Hurons took over at the Rambler 39.
Fairbanks picked up 19 yards on a run. Two plays later he hit Wenzel for a 24-yard score on the right side. A pass-play failed on the PAT, leaving the score 21-19 with 8:32 left in the game.
WITH REED AMEEL on the bench getting medical attention, Boyne’s running attack was not as powerful and they had to punt again. This time the Hurons took over on their own 17 and struck quickly again. Wilbert caught a Fairbanks pass in a crowd, shook off tacklers, and ran down the middle of the field for an 83-yard TD. The PAT failed, but the Hurons had taken the lead for the first time at 25-21 with 5:40 left in the game. A great kickoff return moved the ball to the Boyne City 49, and then the Ramblers struck quickly. Pulling a play from the Hurons’ playbook, Jordan Sweet streaked up the middle of the defensive backfield, finding himself wide open where he caught a Grant Ameel pass and raced in for the score. It would be the only pass Boyne completed all day as they regained the lead at 27-25 with 5:22 to go. A sack, an incomplete pass, and a penalty set up a third and 20 for the Hurons at their own 31 on the ensuing drive. Forced to punt, the Hurons got the ball back after Boyne went three-and-out.
RC TOOK over on its own 23 with 1:59 showing on the game clock. A delay of game cost five yards. Then hopes ended when Fairbanks dropped back to pass and, facing a heavy rush, lost a fumble at the Huron nine-yard line. Two plays later Boyne scored the insurance points with 1:37 left in the game. Time of possession played a big part in the outcome. The Ramblers ran three passing plays for 51 yards and a touchdown. They had 57 running plays for 453 yards and four TDs.
Rogers City made the most of its limited possessions. The running game accou
FAIRBANKS RAN 10 times for 59 yards. Dylan Centala had one carry for three yards while Tyler Schuiteman had three yards on four carries and caught one pass for 10 yards. Trent Holmes added six yards on five tries. Wenzel had five receptions for 173 yards and three TDs.
Defensive leaders were Centala with seven tackles and five assists, and Jeff Cornett with nine tackles and one assist. Tyler Gorlewski had five tackles and five assists and Wenzel added six tackles and three assists.
Rogers City takes on three Upper Peninsula schools after next week’s trip to Alcona. The Hurons travel to St. Ignace, Sault Ste. Marie and Rudyard before finally returning to Gilpin Field for the homecoming battle with Onaway October 8. All games are broadcast on WVXA 96.7-FM with Karl Grambau handling the play-by-play.