Homecoming win posted over Owls

by Richard Lamb–Advance Editor

A happy but wet Huron football team made homecoming 2014 memorable with a 38-6 win over the Oscoda Owls.

Voted Mr. Football at halftime, Jacob Malocha went over the 1,000-yard mark with his first carry of the day. He took a handoff from Quintin Kelly and raced 65 yards up the middle to put the Hurons up 6-0.

That gave the Hurons a lift after Oscoda had recovered an onsides kick to start the game. Their drive fell short when linebacker Alex Hincka made a tackle for a loss on Oscoda’s fourth-and-five play.

A soggy Gilpin Field made for treacherous conditions for the Huron football homecoming game. (Photo by Richard Lamb)

The Owls ran a similar offense to that shown by Whittemore-Prescott in week seven, but not nearly as successful. Running a full house backfield with dual tight ends, they kept their attack focused on busting the middle. But this week, the Hurons were up to the task.

A fumble recovery by senior Cole Henry at the Oscoda 36 stopped an Owl drive late in the first quarter, but the Owls scored on their next possession.

A 13-play, 70-yard drive ate up seven minutes, ending with a 10-yard touchdown run.

The Hurons would answer with another long run from Malocha, this time scoring on a 25-yard draw play with 2:24 left in the half. Rogers City led 12-6 at halftime.

A misty rain turned into a blowing storm coming from the northwest end of Gilpin Field, sending most fans to their vehicles or under protection of heavy rain gear. That did not stop the Hurons from scoring four more touchdowns in the second half.

The first was set up with a 46-yard pass from Kelly to Hincka and capped by Malocha’s 3-yard run. Cameron Urban’s two-point pass to Josh Belusar made it 20-6 with 4:22 left in the third quarter.

Belusar’s punt on the next Huron possession, with the wind, pinned the Owls in at their own 10. Then, forced to punt on the third play of the fourth quarter, a bad snap with a wet ball sailed over the Owls’ punter, handing the ball to the Hurons at the Oscoda 8.

From there Urban followed a block from sophomore center Jacob Hein to give the Hurons a 26-6 lead with 11:01 left in the fourth quarter.

With this carry, senior Jacob Malocha went over the 1,000-yard mark for the season. Rogers City finishes the season at Atlanta, needing one more win for a shot at the MHSAA playoffs.

Urban recovere

d a fumble at the Oscoda 42 setting the table for the next Huron score. This time Rogers City marched 32 yards in five plays, capped by Urban’s 3-yard run around right end for the touchdown. That made it 32-6 with 6:08 left in the game.

Urban’s 56 yard run on the first play of the next drive made the final score 38-6.

Malocha finished the day with 176 yards on 16 carries with three touchdowns. Urban rushed for 101 yards on 13 carries with three touchdowns. Kelly, who was replaced by Justin Saile after he left the game with an injury in the fourth quarter, connected on 5-of-9 passes for 70 yards.

The Hurons, now 4-4, face Atlanta, idle last week, which only has one win on the season. The Huskies defeated winless Hale, 38-0 in week two of the season. It is possible a 5-4 record could land the Hurons in the Michigan High School Athletic Association playoffs.