Re-match with Rudyard is playoff pairing
by Richard Lamb, Advance Editor
A familiar opponent will face the Huron football team in the first round of the Michigan High School Athletic Association playoffs. Rogers City (7-2) travels to Rudyard (8-1) Friday to take on the Bulldogs in round one of the playoffs. Rudyard, and a heavy blowing rain, spoiled the Hurons homecoming in a 48-30 loss to the Bulldogs in week six. In a bitter cold, rain soaked contest, Rudyard lost six fumbles and the Hurons lost five fumbles and an interception in a turnover plagued contest. Rudyard ran for 116 yards and passed for 231 while holding the Hurons to 155 rushing and 61 passing yards.
Coach Mike Kosiara said his team is confident heading into the playoff game, and that the Huron offense can present coverage problems to the other team. ?We are pretty diversified, but it all starts with the running game. Our line blocks well and gets upfield. Our receivers block well. Pat makes good decisions. This helps our backs,? Kosiara said.
Defensively, the Hurons will try to stop record-setting quarterback Davin Salo, who set the career record for touchdown passes at Rudyard (26 heading into last week?s contest). He passed for 275 yards and three TDs in Rudyard?s 41-21 win over Benzie Central in week eight. IN THE final game of the regular season, the Hurons avenged a loss to Oscoda last year by pitching a 28-0 shutout against the Owls. Occasional cloudbursts kept the field slippery, but the Hurons were able to handle the conditions much better than they did against Rudyard.
?The Rudyard game probably helped because it was so much warmer Friday. I think the biggest thing is that the kids embraced the weather,? Kosiara said. Embraced it so much, that many of them took a victory dive in some of the wetter places of the field after the game. Rogers City scored most of its points via the long play. On the second play from scrimmage, senior quarterback Pat Quaine found senior end Brandon Haneckow open over the middle for a 41-yard TD pass. Quaine ran in the conversion for a quick 8-0 lead.
Travis Claus recovered a fumble at the Oscoda 11 to set up the next Huron score. Quaine danced in from the eight to make the score 14-0 with 2:37 left in the first quarter. THE HURON defensive front had a great game, holding the Owls to negative yardage on first down plays in the first quarter. Kosiara praised the work of assistant coach Andy Hayhoe, who calls the defensive signals.
?They were awesome in the game. Andy does a great job with the defense. He works hard to have them prepped for every game,? Kosiara said. Another Owl turnover, this time an interception by Ben Tulgestke, set up the next Huron touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. Facing second-and-four, Quaine connected with Chris Vogelheim for a 10-yard touchdown pass. David Lewandowski?s two-point run made the score 22-0 as the rain started falling in sheets. The teams traded possessions the rest of the first half.
The final Huron TD came on a pass from Quaine to Tulgestke which covered 61 yards down the right sideline at the 3:05 mark of the third quarter. The Hurons played without linebacker a
Individual: Passing, Quaine 4-of-15, 128 yards, 3 TDs. Receiving: Tulgestke 2 receptions, 76 yards, 1 TD; Haneckow 1/42/1; Vogelheim 1/42/1.
Rushing: Quaine 13 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD; Lewandowski 13/57/0; Wilbert 8/18/0; Urban 8/16/0.
Defensive leaders: Elowsky 6 primary, 2 assisted tackles; Wilk 5/2; Claus 5/1; Vogelheim 6/0; Schmucker 4/2.
Interception by Tulgestke. Fumble recoveries by Claus (2) and Tulgestke.