Hurons must regroup for battle with Saints

The Hurons were left licking their wounds after a 20-6 loss last week at Alcona. Injuries left the Hurons with just a few able bodies left on the sidelines at times during the game. With safety Matt Tomas already out, linemen James Bruning and Jeff Cornett each suffered injuries, which may keep them out of Friday’s contest at 7 p.m. at St. Ignace. Evan Vogelheim and Dylan Centala each came off the field with injuries during last week’s game, but were able to return to play and should be able to play Friday. There is a possibility a player may be brought up from the JV ranks to strengthen the ailing Hurons.

THE SAINTS are coming off a dismal 55-0 loss to Cheboygan (2-1) last week after a 26-20 loss to Maple City Glen Lake (2-1) the week before. The Saints earned their only win in week one, a 28-18 win over Charlevoix (1-2). Last week at Alcona, the Huron offense never could get on track. The running attack did show signs of coming around, but many opportunities were missed.

“We are focusing on the positive things we did. We ran the ball more consistently. We threw the ball well, but dropped some passes. The defense did play better in the second half,” said coach Mike Kosiara. The Hurons did not score on offense, as the only score came on Cody Wenzel’s TD return of a fumble recovery in the second quarter.

ALCONA, WHICH matched the Huron roster of 16 players with 16 of its own, got on the scoreboard first. Junior fullback Brandt Kauffman capped an 81-yard drive, which used five minutes off the clock by storming around left end for a 24-yard TD run. The kick failed but the Tigers led 6-0 with 4:35 left in the first quarter. Rogers City came back with a drive of its own, as Centala runs of six, four, and three yards, along with a Tiger penalty, moved the ball past midfield. Then, forced from the pocket, Huron junior quarterback Austin Fairbanks ran for 25 yards before fumbling the ball away to the Tigers. That started the second TD drive for Alcona, capped by Kauffman’s 15-yard run with 10:57 showing on the clock in the second quarter.

THE HURONS turned the ball over on downs, as a fourth-and-nine pass from the Tiger 45 fell incomplete. The turnover was erased moments later as a big combination hit from Tyler Schuiteman and Centala knocked the ball free from Alcona quarterback Dan Somers as he broke into the Huron backfield. Wenzel scooped the ball up at the Tiger 47 and raced down the left sideline untouched for the score to make it 12-6, Tigers at the 8:46 mark.

AGAIN THE TIGERS would answer with a punishing ground attack. They used 12 plays to cover 78 yards in four minutes with Ryan W

ilson carrying the ball the final four yards to the end zone. He added the two-pointer for the final score of the game with 4:07 left in the second quarter. The Tigers recorded 427 yards on the ground and 47 in the air. Rogers City managed 90 rushing yards and 83 passing. Fairbanks hit on 8-of-23 passes with one sack. Wenzel caught four passes for 47 yards. Four other Hurons caught passes. They were Mark Grulke (17 yards), Chris Santini (14 yards), Schuiteman (6 yards) and Centala (4 yards). Fairbanks ran six times for 40 yards. Centala carried 10 times for 34 yards while Schuiteman ran four times for 16 yards.

“They executed well and didn’t make mistakes,” Kosiara said of Alcona’s play. Tackle leaders included Centala with 12 solos and three assists, Schuiteman with 11 solos and 1 assist, Tyler Gorlewski with seven solos and four assists, and Cornett with seven solo and two assists.