Turnovers costly in 30-7 loss to Inland Lakes

by Richard Lamb– Advance Editor

A fired-up Inland Lakes team took advantage of Huron turnovers and came away with a 30-7 win over Rogers City last Friday. The Hurons opened the season with two wins but have now lost three in a row and must find a way to get the train back on the track if they want to think about a possible playoff berth. Rogers City (2-3) travels to Rudyard (3-2) Friday. Rudyard defeated Harbor Springs (2-3) by a score of 38-20 and topped Hillman (2-3) 40-0 in the season?s first two games. Since then, they lost to Sault Ste. Marie (2-3) 21-0, defeated winless Newberry 28-0, and lost to undefeated St. Ignace 41-8.

?We will try to focus not just on one game at a time but one quarter at a time, especially the first one,? said Huron coach Mike Kosiara. The Hurons were victims of some big plays, but were able to move the ball on the ground, gaining 257 yards. ?In many respects we looked better than last week. Our pass coverage was much better, even though they completed some big plays,? Kosiara said. Rogers City gave up 49 rushing yards and 181 passing yards. Inland Lakes (1-4) got on the scoreboard by taking advantage of a Rogers City turnover. Taking over at the Huron 18, the Bulldogs connected on a 24-yard pass play for the game?s first score at the 1:21 mark of the first quarter.

THE BULLDOGS SCORED on the next possession, using seven plays to go 47 yards. They kept the drive alive with two successful third and long plays. On a third-and-18 the Bulldogs connected on a hook-and-ladder play for 23 yards. That set up a six-yard TD run four plays later and Inland Lakes led 12-0 with 8:22 left in the first half. Justin Idalski, making his second start at quarterback in place of the injured Pat Quaine, had a pass intercepted to end the Hurons?s next drive. Then the Huron defense came up big. Four straight plays went for losses as Jordan Zempel, Taylor Kowalewsky, Trent Hayhoe, and Cody Elowsky each took turns catching the Bulldog ball-carrier behind the line of scrimmage. The score stayed that way until halftime.

The turnover bug bit again on the Hurons? first possession of the second half, as Idalski?s pass went off the hands of a Huron receiver into the hands of the Inland Lakes safety. The Hurons stopped the drive and started a drive of their own. Idalski connected with junior end Brandon Haneckow for a first down and runs Kevin Fairbanks and Zempel moved the chains again. The Hurons were looking to get back in the game but again a turnover on a freaky play cost them. On the play, Zempel followed a hole up the middle and appeared to have a five or six yard gain. But, even as he was being tackled by three defenders, the Bulldog linebacker was on his way in the other direction to a 50-yard fumble return, having stripped Zempel of the ball. That led to a Bulldog touchdown which made the score 18-0 with 3:10 left in the third quarter.

THE NEXT HURON drive ended with an interception, then the Bulldogs punted. That Huron drive ended up with the Hurons coming up just short on a fourth down play at their own 43. The Bulldogs needed just three plays to reach the end zone, bringing the score to 24-0 with nine minutes left in the game. The Hurons only scoring drive of the day began at their own 33 yard-line. Keeping the ball on the ground with Zempel and Fairbanks, the Hurons moved the ball to the 14 yard-line.

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dney Marx took advantage of his only carry of the day, making a nice move to the right to evade tacklers and scored the only Huron TD of the game. Alex Lemmon, out of Marx?s hold, kicked the PAT. The last Bulldog TD came on another strange play. After catching a pass from Idalski for an apparent three-yard gain, Luke Ryan had the ball stripped and taken away for a 22-yard TD fumble return. Part of the problem on offense was a stacked Bulldog defense, bent on stopping the run. ?I don?t know that our game plan was stymied, but with our inconsistent passing game, we couldn?t make them back out of it,? Kosiara said.

Statistics: Total offense: RC 257 rushing, 53 passing. Inland Lakes 49 rushing, 181 passing. Passing: Idalski 5-of-11, 53 yards, 2 INT. Rushing: Fairbanks 23/142/0; Zempel 19/86/0; Idalski 10/15/0; Marx 1/14/1. Receiving: Ferris 2/21/0; Haneckow 1/15/0; Fairbanks 1/14/0. Defensive leaders: Elowsky 6 tackles, 2 assists, 1.5 sacks. Hayhoe 6 tackles, 1 assist, 2 sacks.