Hurons move to 3-0 with win at Alcona
For the second time in three games the Huron defense put up a shut out while the offense ran up big numbers. A 48-0 win at Alcona has the Hurons 3-0 for the first time since 1999 heading into Friday?s game with St. Ignace. The Saints are 1-2, losing to Charlevoix and Cheboygan while defeating East Jordan. Huron coach Mike Kosiara has scouted St. Ignace and has an idea of what to expect. ?They will run from the Wing-T, but they have also added the Jet Sweep series,? he said. ?This is tough to defend.? ?Our kids are confident and it?s a good, solid, quiet confidence.? Last Friday in rainy Lincoln, both teams waited out a 20-minute rain delay and then played through intermittant showers all night long.
After forcing a Tiger punt, the Hurons struck quickly. A 28-yard run by Tyler Schuiteman and a 30-yard run by Jordan Claus opened the Hurons? first scoring drive. The Huron offensive line would open holes for the runners all game long. ?Our linemen played extremely well. They came off the ball hard and yet made the adjustments they needed to make,? Kosiara said. ?Schuiteman?s opening carry is a prime example. It was an ?iso? but the defensive tackle slanted into the gap. Joe Finch drove him across the gap and Tyler bounded it outside.? Junior quarterback Chase McLennan hit junior wideout Bret Karsten on a 16-yard slant for the touchdown. Finch added the PAT kick and the Hurons led 7-0 with 6:07 left in the opening quarter cashing in on a six-play, two-minute drive.
CLAUS RECOVERED a fumble on the ensuing kick-off and the Hurons were in business again at their own 46-yard line. McLennan kept the drive alive with a 10-yard gain on a fourth and two situation. Four plays later, McLennan scored on a 22-yard keeper and the Hurons led 13-0 with two minutes left in the first quarter. Karsten picked off an Alcona pass to give the Hurons another chance off a turnover. Starting at their own 39, the Hurons got the power game going, marching 71 yards in 11 plays and using up more than six minutes on the game clock. Claus, Schuiteman, McLennan and Dustin Hein followed the blocking of the offensive line to get to the goal line. With fourth-and-goal inside the Tiger one-yard line, Hein dove for the first of his two TDs on the day. Karsten, holding for Finch, scooped up the snap from center Evan Vogelheim and raced around left end for a two-point conversion and a 21-0 Huron lead with 7:38 left in the half.
THE NEXT HURON touchdown came via aggressive defense. With the Tiger runner appearing to have been stopped, McLennan came in from his linebacker position to strip the ball. He then ran unchallenged for a 37-yard TD scamper of a stolen ball. The Hurons now led 27-0 with 6:43 left in the half. The third quarter began with another Huron touchdown on a big play. Schuiteman took a handoff and bolted 59-yards down the left side for the fifth Huron TD. Gapczynski recovered a Tiger fumble to set up TD drive number six. Schuiteman picked up nine yards, Claus gained 12, McLennan picked up five, Claus gained four, and then Hein went for seven to set up a first-and-goal situation for the Hurons. Two plays later Hein ran through a huge hole created by Gapczynski at right guard an
THE FINAL SCORE came courtesy of a 12-yard run by McLennan with 9:04 left in the game. Kosiara said the win was all about teamwork. ?Evan Vogelheim, Chris Cornett, and Tom Bellmore were outstanding at the nose guard. They were credited with no tackles but they shut down the Alcona running game,? he said. ?The line played great. Our receivers didn?t get opportunities to catch the ball, but Alex Matthews and Bret Karsten were blocking downfield allowing the big runs to happen.?
Statistics: Total yards: Rogers City, rushing 362, passing 16. Alcona rushing 92, passing 16. Passing: McLennan 1-of-3 for 16 yards and one TD. Rushing: Schuiteman 13/190/1; McLennan 13/77/2; Claus 8/65/0; Hein 5/27/2. Receiving: Karsten 1/16/1. Defensive leaders: Tackling leaders: Holmes 9, Gapczynski 9, Finch 6, Bruning 5. Interception by: Karsten. Strip by McLennan (returned for 37 yard TD.