Undefeated Hurons host undefeated Saints in week four matchup

by Richard Lamb– Advance Editor

Rogers City and St. Ignace will renew a rivalry which dates back to 1952 when the Saints invade Gilpin Field Friday at 7:30 p.m. The schools have met on the gridiron 50 times since that first game in ?52 with St. Ignace holding a 17-32-1 edge over the Hurons. Rogers City has had the upper hand in recent seasons, winning six of the last 10 contests. The only years the teams didn?t play were in 1953, 1967, 1988, 1990 and 1991. St. Ignace comes into Friday?s contest with a 3-0 record that might be deceiving. Their three wins have come against Charlevoix, East Jordan, and Newberry?who have combined for a 0-9 record so far this season.

?They have a diverse offensive attack featuring the ?jet sweep? which is always difficult to defend,? said Huron coach Mike Kosiara. ?On defense they play an aggressive 6-1 defense.? Kosiara?s teams are 1-1 against the Saints, winning at St. Ignace 28-16 last season.

LAST FRIDAY against Alcona, the Hurons ran right up the middle most of the night, and the Tigers couldn?t stop them in a 37-0 win. Rogers City rang up 305 yards on the ground and just 17 in the air in a dominating performance. ?It was a piece of the game plan to run up the middle. We wanted to control the clock. We did not realize how successfully we would be able to do it throughout the game,? Kosiara said.

Senior quarterback Chase McLennan had a marvelous game, rushing for 175 yards on 19 carries with four touchdowns. He scored on runs of one yard, 26 yards, 43 yards, and five yards. The 43-yarder showed that Friday would be McLennan?s lucky game. On the play, he rolled to his left, picked up a block on the left side and then dropped the football. Instantly, the ball bounced back into his arms, never breaking stride as he raced down the left sideline for an unlikely score. Coach Kosiara had praise for his quarterback and had ideas why he has been so successful this season.

?Chase is a tough, outstanding athlete. However, the Veer is a team offense. When Chase has a big game that means everyone else is doing his part. For example, Bret (Karsten, who scored three touchdowns the week before) had no catches, but his presence allowed us to play 10-on-9 most of the night. We also had really good line surge.?

AN ONSIDE kick gave Alcona the ball as the game began. They squandered field position, and the Hurons scored on their first drive. A 14-play march covered 75 yards, capped by a one-yard plunge by McLennan with 3:27 left in the first quarter. Two key penalties stalled the Tigers? next drive, and then the Hurons were forced to punt. That punt ended up turning into another touchdown for Rogers City, as a Tiger return man touched the ball, allowing Huron junior Kevin Fairbanks to scoop it up and run 42 yards for the score. At the 10:38 mark of the second quarter Rogers City led 13-0. The Hurons scored after another Tiger punt. McLennan?s 12-yard run capped a seven-play 62-yard drive with 3:37 left in the half. The drive featured seven running plays with Dustin Hein, Fairbanks, Karsten (on an end around) and McLennan sharing the carries.

A strong rush from linebacker T.J. Sobeck forced a fumble by Alcona, which was recovered by Derek Schleben at the Huron 35. The half ended with the Hurons leading 19-0. After getting the ball at their own 43 following a Tiger punt, the Hurons needed 13 plays to march the field for another score. Using the pass sparingly, Kosiara kept pounding the ball inside, with Chris Cornett?s one-yard run giving the Hurons a 25-0 lead with 5:14 left in the third.

ALCONA HAD its deepest penetration on the next drive, marching from their own 38 to the Huron 15 before surrendering on downs as the third quarter expired. The Hurons started their next drive on their own 29, following an unsportsmanlike penalty against a frustrated Tiger player. McLennan?s 43-yard run 12 plays later gave the Hurons a 31-0 lead with 8:04 left in the contest. Karsten?s interception gave the ball back to the Hurons three plays into the Tigers? next possession. McLennan capped a 33-yard drive with a five-yard run for the final Huron tally.

OPPONENTS HAVE now seen that the Hurons can throw the ball successfully and pound the middle of the line for long sustained drives. Having a diverse offense means the coach can feel good about either the air or the ground game.

?It d

oes feel good. Offensively, we don?t try to force plays. We like to take what the defense will give us,? he said. Kosiara said the play of Cornett at the nose guard position added a dimension to assistant coach Andy Hayhoe?s defense. ?His play at the nose took away their bread and butter plays. In addition, our linebackers were very active and energetic,? Kosiara said.

Friday?s game will be broadcast on 99.9 FM The Wave with Karl Grambau and Karl Momrik handling the play-by-play. Last week, they were joined in the broadcast booth by superintendent Dan Byrne, who helped out at halftime and in the third quarter.

Statistics: Offense: Rogers City 305 rushing, 17 passing, 322 total. Alcona 85 rushing, 78 passing, 163 total. Passing: McLennan 1-of-7 17 yards. Rushing: 19 for 176 yards, 4 TD; Fairbanks 11 for 61 yards; Hein 11 for 45 yards, Cornett 7 for 18 yards, 1 TD; Karsten 1 for 6 yards. Receiving: Devon Ferris 1 for 17 yards. Defensive leaders: Jerome Gapczynski 10 primary, 2 assisted tackles; McLennan 6 primary, 4 assisted tackles; Hein 4 primary, 1 assisted tackles. Interception by Karsten Fumble recoveries by Fairbanks (returned for 42-yard TD), and Schleben.