Fumble recoveries lead to Huron win

by Richard Lamb, Advance Editor

Rogers City and Rudyard will square off for the third time in less than one year with the Hurons looking to get revenge for two Bulldog wins. Rudyard (2-3) is coming off consecutive losses to Newberry (3-2) by a score of 37-30 and St. Ignace (4-1) by a score of 43-12. They defeated White Pine of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario 46-28 in the opening game of the season, then lost 22-0 to Frankfort (4-1). Rudyard defeated backyard rival Pickford (3-2) by a 30-15 count in week three. Rogers City lost 48-30 at Gilpin Field in week six last season and 32-6 in a muddy playoff game at Rudyard. The Bulldogs lost 54-8 to eventual state champion Traverse City St. Francis in the second round of the playoffs to finish 9-2.

LAST WEEK AT Gilpin Field, the Hurons earned a 14-6 win over the Inland Lakes Bulldogs. Following a scoreless first quarter, the Bulldogs got on the scoreboard first. Working out of a full house backfield, Inland Lakes senior Trevor Hanel took a handoff, reversed field and raced 25 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown. The PAT failed, but the Bulldogs led 6-0 with 9:24 left in the second quarter. That capped a 53-yard drive which took three minutes. Inland Lakes took over on its own 47 after a fourth-and-one fell short for Rogers City.

Then the Hurons came right back with a drive of their own, starting at their own 31. Runs by Jesse Wilbert, Keegan Urban and Lance Schaedig moved the chains before two penalties pushed them back. Facing third-and-20, Wilbert lofted a perfect pass that hit a streaking Chase Grulke squarely in the hands down the right sideline. That play covered 67 yards, good for a touchdown. ?The key to that play was how Dylan Orr came off from double-teaming the end to pick up a blitzing linebacker. Without that block Jesse would not have been able to make that throw,? said Huron coach Mike Kosiara.

On the two-point conversion, Wilbert took the snap from Alec Brietzke, rolled left and waited for Devin Hilla to clear coverage before delivering a pass to the junior for the two-pointer. Blocking on the left side by left tackle Chris Pflug and left guard Mark Rhode were keys to the success of that play. Rogers City led 8-6 with 6:54 left in the second quarter. ROGERS CITY held Inland Lakes on a fourth down play but lost the ball on an interception six plays later. That drive ended as the half came to a close. In the second half, the Hurons had the wind at their back as the rain started to become a factor. The teams traded possessions before Inland Lakes took over on its own 35. An 11-yard run up the middle gained a first down. Then Craig Nadolsky and Brietzke stopped the Bulldog runner for a 2-yard loss.

That set up the strangest game-winning play in recent memory. Running into the pack, the Inland Lakes ball carrier had the ball stripped and Huron linebacker Lance Schaedig took the ball and raced untouched 40 yards for a score. The two-point conversion failed, but the Hurons led 14-6 with 4:14 left in the third quarter. ?Wow, that play was big,? said Kosiara. ?I could not really tell what happened. It looked like a bobbled exchange that landed in Lance?s hands. That score meant that Inland Lakes would need more than a touchdown to win.?

Then the Hurons stopped the next Bulldog drive, stuffing a fourth-down run. ?The key was keeping the momentum. They did not relax. Defense played great all night. Coach Chad Coolman works hard to make sure they are prepped. The kids have commented on how Mr. Coolman?s scouting reports are just like what is run at them.? PENALTIES HURT a drive as the fourth quarter began. Wilbert and junior tight end Devin Hilla connected on a 22-yard pass on fourth down to move to the Bulldog 31. Runs by Casey Orr and Urban moved the ball to the Bulldog nine. But the drive stalled inside the 5-yard line, however the Hurons had eaten up 6 minutes on the clock.

A bit of good fortune smiled on the Hurons on the next Bulldog possession. A long gainer on first down was called back, moving the ball to the Bulldog 2-yard line. Then two plays later, they lost a fumble, as sophomore cornerback Evan Lamb, up from the junior varsity, stripped the ball and

it bounced into the hands of Grulke at the Bulldog 29.

Rogers City went three and out on the ensuing possession, giving Inland Lakes another chance with 3:14 left in the game. Zach Sobeck?s quarterback sack pushed them back, but a pass interference call two downs later breathed life into the drive. With the ball at midfield and 1:33 left in the game, Inland Lakes tried a series of long passes, which fell incomplete to end the game. The Hurons hope to keep the momentum gained last week alive in Rudyard Friday. The game will be broadcast on 99.9 FM with Karl Grambau and Karl Momrik on the play-by-play.

Statistics: total offense: Rogers City 126 passing, 114 rushing; Inland Lakes 9 passing, 172 rushing. Individual Passing: Wilbert 8-of-19, 126 yards, 1 TD 1 XP, 2 Int. Receiving: Hilla: 6 receptions, 48 yards 1 XP; Grulke 2/78/1TD. Rushing: Urban, 12 attempts, 42 yards; Wilbert 11/26, Orr 7/35; Schaedig 6/11. Defensive leaders: Schaedig 12 primary, 4 assisted tackles. Orr 6/7; Brietzke 5/3, Sobeck 5/2.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.