Saints play Hurons Friday; Alcona runs to 33-24 win last week
A bruised Huron football team will have to regroup to face St. Ignace after suffering a bitter 33-24 loss to Alcona last week. St. Ignace is winless in three games after losing to Charlevoix, 35-0, Maple City Glen Lake 22-15, and Cheboygan, 53-14. Last week in the home opener, Alcona literally ran through the Huron defense on the way to 485 total yards, with 426 of those coming on the ground. The Hurons (2-1) had just 117 yards of offense but managed to establish a 24-14 lead midway through the third quarter. Sophomore quarterback Chase McLennan hit Cody Wenzel with a 19-yard pass with 3:48 left in the third quarter to make the lead 10 points.
The play capped a five-play, 48-yard drive which took two minutes. McLennan got the first 15 yards on a keeper to the left. Then, after runs by Wenzel and Tyler Schuiteman netted two yards, McLennan connected with junior tight end Trent Holmes for a 14-yard pass up the middle to set up the TD play and give the Hurons a 24-14 lead at the end of the third quarter.
ALCONA ANSWERED with a grueling 11-play drive, capped by a 13-yard run with 10:22 left in the fourth quarter. The Tigers drew within four at 24-20. A short kick recovered by the Hurons at their own 49 gave them great field position, but set up a decision for coach Mike Kosiara three plays later. On fourth and five at the Alcona 46, Kosiara rolled the dice and decided to go for it, but an incomplete pass turned it over to the Tigers. Earlier in the game, Wenzel?s punt pinned the Tigers deep in their own end, as he had done several times in the Posen game the week before. In this situation, playing shorthanded, Kosiara reasoned going for it had its advantages. He explained. ?At the beginning of the third quarter, we pinned Alcona deep and they turned it over on downs after driving 43 yards. However, by the fourth quarter, our kids were really worn down and having difficulty stopping them,? Kosiara said.
?With 8:49 left, I was concerned that if we pinned them deep, they would march the length of the field using nearly all the time on the clock. I wanted to play for the win. If we made the first down, great. If we didn?t and they scored, we would still have time on the clock to mount our own drive for the win. I gambled and I lost.? Kosiara?s fears came true, as four disastrous plays spelled doom for the home team. First the Tigers drove 54 yards in nine plays over 4:31, capped by the first of the four plays, a three-yard TD run to make the score 26-24 with 4:13 left in the game.
A REFEREE?S judgment call gave the Tigers a huge opportunity on the next play. Attempting a bouncing onside kick, the football bounced into a crowd, short of the 50 yard-line, and Alcona came up with the ball at its own 48. After huddling, the officials decided a Huron touched the ball before it traveled 10 yards, making it a live ball. On the next play Wenzel was called for a flagrant foul, one which caused the official to eject the senior from the game. Not only was he out for the game at a critical time, Wenzel ineligible this week against St. Ignace. The fourth of the four plays which decided the game came next on a 28-yard TD run for Alcona. The kick gave the Tigers a 33-24 lead with 3:46 left. The Hurons provided one more moment of hope when Mark Grulke, lined up as punter in place of Wenzel, teamed with Justin Wilbert for an 18-yard pass for a first down. ?Justin and Mark did that on their own,? Kosiara said. ?It showed a never-say-die attitude.? Unfortunately, that drive ended with a lost fumble for the Hurons and then Alcona ran out the clock.
TRAILING 6-0 in the first quarter, Schuiteman picked off a pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown at the 2:11 mark tying the score at 6-6. Rogers City took a 12-6 lead, with six minutes left in the half when McLennan delivered a 21-yard pass to a wide-open Bret Karsten in the right corner of the end zone. That drive followed a great defensive stand by the Hurons. At one point the Tigers had first and goal, but ended the drive with a fourth-and-50, after penalties and great defensive plays. Alcona took a 14-12 lead, after a 12-play, 64-yard drive that ate up nearly five minutes. Schuiteman turned that around by taking the ensuing kickoff down the right sideline 53 yards for a score, giving the Hurons the lead again at 18-14 at halftime.
THE LOSS doesn?t overshadow the effort of the short-handed Hurons, who suited up just 14 players, most of whom played every down on offense, defense and special teams. Tailback and defensive back Dylan Centala was hurt on a play with 17 seconds left in the first quarter, further stretching the team?s limitations. Kosiara said it is uncertain if Centala will return this week. ?Right now, Dylan?s status is day-to-day. Dylan brings toughness to the team. He is a vocal leader, but mainly leads by example,? the coach said.
Three players do return to action this week. Austin Fairbanks will return to the active roster and will start at quarterback. Jordan Claus, a running back, and Brad Belusar, a lineman, also return to the team after missing the first three games.
?First of all, we need to put Alcona behind us. It was one game. Second, we need to integrate our returning players into the scheme and replace those who can?t play,? Kosiara said.
Statistics: Total offense, Rogers City 28 rushing, 89 passing, 117 total. Alcona 456 rushing, 29 passing, 485 total. Rushing leaders: McLennan, 7/12; Wenzel 7/8, Centala 3/11. Receiving leaders: B. Karsten 2/33/1; Wenzel 2/24/1. Defensive leaders: Schuiteman one interception, returned for TD. B. Karsten 15 primary, 3 assisted tackles. McLennan, 12 primary tackles. Vogelheim 6 primary, 3 assists.