Blue Devils too much for Hurons in 68-28 loss

The Huron football team is nearing the end of a long five-game road trip. One more trip across the Big Mac bridge and the Hurons will finally be able to play a game at home. But first comes a trip to Rudyard to face the 1-4 Bulldogs. Rudyard topped winless Harbor Springs 8-0, then lost to Elk Rapids (34-32), Sault Ste. Marie (48-6), Newberry (40-0) and St. Ignace (37-31). “They (Rudyard) are a veer team and run a similar defense to us,” said Huron coach Mike Kosiara of Rudyard.

Rudyard had three winning seasons in a row from 1998-2000 but hasrecorded three losing seasons since then. They were 2-7 in 2003. Playing so many games on the road has affected the play of the Hurons. “It has been difficult,” said Kosiara. “Not riding a bus will seem odd when we get home.”

AFTER A 68-28 loss at Sault Ste. Marie last Friday, the Hurons will look to stop a four-game losing streak. Last week the Blue Devils scored nearly every time they had the ball using a strong running game to steamroll their way to the goal line. A wild first half saw both teams light up the scoreboard. Following a Huron punt on the opening drive, the Blue Devils used 12 running plays to cover 75 yards, then added a two-pointer to make it 8-0. Rogers City came right back with a touchdown of its own. Starting at their own 20, after the kickoff went into the end zone, the Hurons scored six plays later as junior quarterback Austin Fairbanks scored on a 24-yard run around the end. The PAT failed and the Hurons trailed 8-6 with 2:49 left in the first quarter. The Soo scored three plays into its next drive, covering the final 31 yards on a pass, adding the two-pointer for a 16-6 lead.

Before the home team had time to celebrate, Huron junior return man Dylan Centala had run back the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. He started on the left side, weaved to the center of the field, then darted down the left side to pay dirt. Kicker Cody Wenzel improvised on the PAT kick gone awry, under-handing a toss to Trent Holmes for the two-pointer. The score was 16-14 with 1:28 left in the first quarter. Three running plays later, the Blue Devils had another touchdown and led 22-14, covering 78 yards in less than one minute. A Huron drive ended with a Fairbanks pass intercepted deep in the Blue Devil’s end. The return went all the way to the Huron 34, setting up the next score, a six-yard run to make the score 32-14. The Soo added another TD on their next drive, following a Wenzel punt. They covered 59 yards in five running plays, tacked on the two-point conversion on another run, and the score was 40-14 with 4:12 left in the half.

THE HURONS did not back off, responding with a TD drive of their own sparked by the running game. A 14-yard run by Centala, an 18-yard run by Tyler Schuiteman, and a one-yard run by Centala moved the ball to the Blue Devil 31. That’s where the TD pass from Fairbanks to Wenzel started, and the two teamed on the two point conversion to make the score 40-22 at halftime. “There was no quitting,” Kosiara said of his team. “They continued to play hard. I believe they even began developing an attitude.”

A GREAT kickoff return gave the Blue Devils the ball on the Huron 11. A run up the middle on the next play, and the two-pointer, gave host team a 48-22 lead. The Hurons went three-and-out on their next drive, setting up the next Soo score. They marched 80 yards, mostly on inside runs, making the score 56-22. A stop by the Hurons on the two-point effort prevented the 35-point mercy running clock from going.

A 20-YARD return, plus a 15-yard personal foul, gave the Hurons great field position at the Soo 48. A roughing-the-passer play kept the drive alive, allowing Fairbanks to score on a four-yard run four plays later. That made the score 56-28 with 2:10 left. Then the Soo capped the scoring on this wi

ld night by driving 51 yards in five plays to make it 68-28 as the clock ran on to the end of the game. Teams have been having success on the ground against the Hurons. The Soo had 579 rushing yards and 80 through the air for 659 total yards. Rogers City had 194 on the ground and 46 through the air. “Defensively we are getting bodies to the right places. We just need to finish (the tackle),” Kosiara said. The Huron running game turned in its best performance. Centala had 72 yards on 18 carries, Schuiteman recorded 72 yards on 8 carries and Fairbanks added 45 yards on five carries with two touchdowns.

“OUR LINEMEN kept their poise and executed their blocks correctly, for the most part. Dylan and Tyler both ran with authority. Austin also made good yards,” Kosiara said. Fairbanks completed four of 17 passes for 46 yards, one TD, one two-point conversion, and one interception. Wenzel caught three passes for 35 yards, one TD and one extra point. Matt Tomas led the defense with 14 primary and four assisted tackles. Wenzel added eight primary and three assisted tackles with one interception. Friday’s game is a 7:30 p.m. start with the game to be broadcast on WVXA, 96.7-FM.

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