Hurons top Inland Lakes; face powerful Rudyard in homecoming game
by Richard Lamb– Advance Editor
Rogers City won a wild game last week at Indian River to set up a game matchup of 4-1 teams on homecoming night. Rudyard comes to town with an explosive offense that has averaged 40 points per game. ?They run a wide-open offense, so have your head on a swivel,? said Huron coach Mike Kosiara.
Kosiara?s teams are 2-3 against Rudyard teams, winning in ?06 and ?07 before a 42-20 loss last year in Rudyard. ?This is big. We need to prove to ourselves that the St. Ignace game (the Hurons? only loss of the season) was a fluke,? he said.
THE HURONS? 52-38 win last Friday had it all if you like offensive football, not so much if you prefer tough defenses. Each team took turns reeling off long plays against each other in a game played under ideal conditions for football. The Hurons got on the scoreboard first, taking advantage of Ben Tulgestke?s recovery of a fumbled punt attempt. Nine plays and 30 yards later senior quarterback Pat Quaine scored from one yard out. Quaine?s pass to Chris Vogelheim made it 8-0 with 5:11 on the clock.
Quaine had another great day, running for two TDs and passing for three more. Inland Lakes struck back, taking Cody Elowsky?s kickoff all the way back for a 65-yard TD, tying the score at 8-8. Two plays after the ensuing kickoff, the Hurons struck again, with Quaine and Tulgestke hooking up for a 66-yard pass. But back came Inland Lakes with a touchdown to answer. A kickoff return to the Huron 40 set up a score three plays later as Justin Flowers, a 145-pound speedster, bolted around right end for a 25-yard TD tying the score at 14-14 with 2:59 left in a wild first quarter.
A FUMBLED punt snap set up the next Huron score. Using a short field again, the Hurons used one minute and three plays to score. Quaine and Tulgestke combined on a 38-yard pass and again on the two-pointer to give the Hurons a 22-14 lead. The Huron defense held the Bulldogs with a three-and-out and took over on their own 27 with 8:48 left in the half. Junior running back Jordan Bellmore jump-started the drive with a 28-yard run around the left side. Then runs by David Lewandowski and Jesse Wilbert set up another big play from Tulgestke.
Tulgestke, the senior tight end took a pass from Quaine and then carried three defenders up the middle for a 28-yard gainer to the Bulldog six. Then on fourth down Quaine followed the blocking on the left side of senior left tackle Jeff Kuznicki, center Alec Brietzke and left guard Wade Wilk for a TD. Quaine?s pass to Sidney Marx made it 30-14 with 5:05 left in the half. After taking over following a punt, another big play netted points for the Hurons. This time Lewandowski, the speedy senior running back, bolted down the left sideline for a 68-yard score and a 36-14 Huron lead. He ran for 179 yards on 14 carries and scored two touchdowns.
THE BULLDOGS brought the score to 36-22 with a 49-yard pass play with 5:22 left in the quarter. The teams traded quick TDs in the fourth quarter. Rogers City scored first, on a Quaine pass to Vogelheim, which covered 32 yards. Quaine added the two-point run for a 44-22 lead with 5:59 left. Again the Bulldogs ran back the kickoff and 15 seconds after the Huron TD the score was 44-30.
But the Hurons answered 14 seconds later, on a 51-yard run by Lewandowski. Quaine?s pass to Tulgestke made the score 52-30 with 5:31 left in the game. Inland Lakes? last score came on a nine-yard pass with 3:21 left in the game. Tulgestke had his best varsity game in the big win. He caught eight passes for 161 yards, two touchdowns and two extra points. On defense he led the team with 12 solo and 3 a
Statistics: Total offense: Rogers City 291 rushing, 207 passing, 487 total. Inland Lakes: 24 rushing, 182 passing, 206 total.
Individual: Passing, Quaine 11-of-21, 198 yards, 3 TD, 4 XP. Wilbert 1-of-1, 9 yards. Receiving: Tulgestke 8/161 yards, 2 TD, 2 XP; Vogelheim 2/34 yards, 1 TD, 1 XP; Wagner 1/9 yards, Marx 1/3 yards 1 XP.
Rushing: Lewandowski 14/179 yards, 2 TD; Bellmore 9/52; Urban 9/39 yards; Quaine 12/13 yards 2 TD, 1 XP; Wilbert 4/8 yards.
Defensive leaders: Tulgestke 12 solo, 3 assisted tackles, 2 fumble recoveries; Elowsky 4 solo, 2 assists; Ellenberger 4 tackles, 2 assists and one interception; Lewandowski 4 tackles, 1 assists, 3 sacks; Vogelheim, interception; Urban fumble recovery.