Hurons top Hillman; play in Posen Friday

by Richard Lamb– Advance Editor

The Hurons dodged a few bullets last week in taking a 12-0 win over Hillman in the season opener to set up a meeting in Posen this Friday. The Vikings, who lost 42-16 in Cedarville (see related story) look to get on the winning track in their first home game. Huron head coach Mike Kosiara said although Posen?s numbers might be low, they will be a very tough opponent. ?Yes, they have low numbers, but look at their core. They are returning many starters from last year. This is going to be a tough, close game. Look at the last three years of scores. Our kids will need to give maximum effort,? he said.

EFFORT, KOSIARA said, which wasn?t always visible during opening night at Hillman. ?I think that both the staff and team were disappointed with the lack of energy in our play. We are happy with the win, but we know for this season to be successful, we must play with more enthusiasm,? he said. Rogers City came up with touchdowns in the first and fourth quarters and had good fortune go its way in between. Senior running back Dustin Hein pounded over from the five with 2:52 showing on the clock in the first quarter. The run capped a 13-play drive, keyed by two fourth down conversions. The first came on a fourth-and-four from the 50-yard line. Senior quarterback Chase McLennan hit senior wideout Bret Karsten for a 16-yard gainer.

DURING THE next set of downs, McLennan scrambled for 16 yards on a fourth-and-two play to put the ball at the Tiger nine. Both plays pleased Kosiara. ?On the fourth and four, Chase?s athleticism helped him avoid the rush. Bret had a streak route and he made an awesome catch,? Kosiara said. ?On the second one, we ran a mid-line option. Chase pulled the ball and found a seam cutting against the grain.? Hillman tried to duplicate the Hurons? fourth-down magic, were stopped at their own 25, but Rogers City could not convert. T.J. Sobeck stopped the Tigers? next drive with an interception, but the Hurons ended up losing possession on downs at the Hillman 36.

With just under eight minutes to go in the half, the Tigers got a drive started. Using a variety of backs in the middle of a rain-soaked field, Hillman moved the ball to the Huron 10-yard line. A no gain on first down, a two yard loss, and then a six-yard gain set up a fourth-and-goal at the Huron six.

LINEBACKER JEROME Gapczynski, who had a marvelous game in leading the Hurons with 16 tackles, made a touchdown-saving stop to thwart the scoring opportunity. But Hillman wasn?t done threatening. The Hurons picked up a first down, thanks to Kevin Fairbanks? 25-yard run, but faced a fourth-and-seven at their own 43 with 54 seconds left in the half. Hillman rushed kicker Joe Finch, blocking the punt. But that drive, and the half, ended as Karsten picked off a pass in the Huron end zone. The defensive big play theme would be played out again and again on this rainy night in Hillman.

?I?m impressed that they came up with the plays with their backs to the wall,? Kosiara said of the defense, led by assistant coach Andy Hayhoe. The next big play came on the Tigers? opening drive. Again mixing up running plays with a few token pass attempts, Hillman moved the ball from its own end to the Hurons? six in 13 plays. A gang tackle on an end sweep at about the two-inch line on the south end of the field kept the Tigers off the scoreboard. Now, with their backs lined up in the end zone, McLennan and the offense had a huge task facing them. They were able to gain five yards, but a penalty put the ball back to the Huron two yard-line. Facing fourth-and-eight, Kosiara sent out the punting team, with Finch deep in his own end zone awaiting the snap from center Ryan Darga. Finch not only got the ball away cleanly, it ended up near midfield to get the Hurons out of troub

le. Kosiara said he let out a big sigh of relief after the kick.

ROGERS CITY scored again with 5:59 left in the game as McLennan found a wide open Karsten in the right corner of the end zone to give the Hurons a 12-0 lead. That came two plays after Alex Matthews intercepted a Hillman pass. A light rain stopped during the first half, leaving slippery conditions. A strong contingent of Rogers City fans seemed to out number the home fans on this warm night in Hillman. Friday?s game is a 7 p.m. start in Posen. The game will be broadcast live on 99.9 FM with Karl Grambau and Karl Momrik doing the play-by-play.

Statistics: Total yards: RC 161 rushing, 78 passing, 239 total. Hillman 175 rushing, 24 passing, 199 total. Passing: McLennan, 4-of-7, 78 yards, 1 TD. Receiving: Karsten, 4/78, 1 TD. Rushing: McLennan 17/98/0, Hein 9/30/1, Fairbanks 4/27/0, Cornett 2/6/0. Leading tacklers: Gapczynski 16, Hein 12, McLennan 11, Hayhoe 10. Interceptions by: Karsten, Sobeck, Matthews.

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