Pellston takes narrow 7-6 win over Hurons

by Angie Asam, Staff Writer

With rain coming down Friday (Sept. 7, 2012) night, the Rogers City Hurons and Pellston Hornets battled it out on defense as the Hurons lost 7-6 to fall to 0-3 on the season.

“We played a really good game. These kids played their hearts out. We have some work to do on offense. We need to do a better job of blocking so our quarterbacks have more time to pass the ball. We had a couple fumbles at the wrong time that hurt us but we will bounce back,” said coach Cory Malocha, serving as head coach as Tim Nagy was suspended for the game for a penalty received against Onaway.

 

JUNIOR ANDREW Selke was a big part of the swarming Rogers City defense last Friday in Pellston. Selke and senior Caleb Pommerenke led the team with 10 tackles each. As Selke looks to bring down this Hornet ball carrier Chris Lopez and Jacob Malocha also close in to ensure they make the stop. (Photo by Angie Asam)

Rogers City received to start the game and punted after four plays. Pellston took over on their own 29. The Hornets moved the ball on the ground and had it first and goal from the 6-yard line. The Hurons put up a defensive wall for two plays making it third and goal from the 4-yard line before the Hornets were able to complete a pass to take the early 6-0 lead, they would add the extra point to make it 7-0 with 7:02 left in the first quarter.

The Hurons took the ball back and on a third-and-five play freshman Quintin Kelly completed a pass to junior Chris Lopez for 23 yards to give the Hurons first and 10 on the 32-yard line of the Hornets. After a 1-yard loss on first down and a fumbled snap the Hurons were looking at a long third and eleven. Kelly fired a pass that fell incomplete and the Hurons took a timeout to discuss the fourth-down play.

They opted to go for it and Kelly threw the ball intended for Lopez but it was intercepted giving the Hornets the ball back on the 21. As time expired in the first quarter the Hurons put up another of many defensive stands pushing the Hornets back to a third and 31 when sophomores Austin Bober and Jacob Malocha were all over the backfield. The Hornets were forced to punt on fourth and 27. 

Rogers City took over on their own 44 and senior Evan Lamb ran the ball for 10 yards on first down. Lamb got the call again and lost 2 yards before Lopez kept the ball at quarterback for 6 yards to set up a fourth and six from the 41. Lopez again called his own number picking up the first down and more setting up a first and 10 from the 29-yard line. Kelly and Lopez then connected on a pass for a 29-yard touchdown. Lopez cut through the middle of the defense and caught the pass before evading some tacklers to reach the end zone.

The Hurons lined up to kick the extra point but a delay of game penalty pushed them back 5 yards and they opted to go for the two-point conversion which was no good to make the score 7-6 with 8:54 left in the first half.

Pellston took over but the stifling Huron defense gave them nothing setting up a punt on fourth and 30. The Hurons took over and went for it on fourth and seven when a would be first-down pass was dropped giving Pellston the ball  back on the 45-yard line.

The Hurons took over just four plays later but after a penalty and a sack were forced to punt giving Pellston the ball with 2:04 left in the half. 

Pellston moved the ball some but the Huron defense stepped it up to stop them and end the first half.

The teams traded possessions to start the second half and the Hurons put together a nice drive. With 3:58 left in the third quarter they had a second and 20 when Kelly and Lopez hooked up for the first down. With a second and 10 from the 18-yard line the Hurons were called for holding backing them up. The drive ended when Kelly was intercepted on fourth down. 

On the next Pellston possession they too were moving the ball and as the fourth quarter started Lopez was able to intercept a pass in the end zone to end Pellston’s drive and give the Hurons possession. A facemasking penalty against the Hornets gave the Hurons a first and 10 from their own 40. 

Rogers City got a first down setting up a first and 10 from the Pellston 45 when Lopez lost the handle on the ball and Pellston recovered to end the Hurons drive with 9:56 left in the game.

After Pellston rattled off four first downs and were moving the ball Malocha was able to cause a fumble that was recovered by Andrew Selke giving the Hurons the ball with 3:11 left.

The Hurons were unable to get anything going and were forced to punt giving the ball back to the Hornets with 2:32 left. After gaining a first down the Hornets were able to run the clock out against the Hurons handing them the loss in a tough game.

“We have a good team, these kids have a lot of heart. We are getting better. We have a couple more bodies out for the team and that certainly helps,” said coach Malocha.

an style="color: #000000;">The Hurons host Pickford (3-0) this Friday at 7 p.m.

Statistics: Total offense, RC 88 yards rushing, 73 yards passing. 

Individual: Passing, Kelly 4-of 13, 73 yards, two interceptions, one touchdown. Rushing, Lopez, four carries, 60 yards; Malocha 6/20/0; Lamb 8/8/0.

Receiving: Lopez 4/73/1.

Interception by Lopez; Fumble recovery by Selke.

Leading tacklers: Caleb Pommerenke 10, Selke 10, Malocha 9, Jack Ryan 8, Lamb 7.