Huron uses strong second half to take down Truckers, 21-7

HURON — Huron took advantage of Norwalk miscues for a 21-7 season-opening win Friday night at the new Mucci Farms Field at Huron Memorial Stadium. After a first half of steady rain, the Tigers rallied from a 7-0 deficit early in the third quarter with 21 straight points. "Both teams were just trying to survive in that first half because of the weather," said Huron coach Sam Hohler. "We made plenty of mistakes we have to clean up, but for us to come out and get a win against a quality opponent like Norwalk, that was a good start for us." After a scoreless first half that included a 30-minute delay because of thunder, the Truckers took the lead on a 6-yard Garret Chapin pass to Oliver Maloney early in the third quarter. The Tigers answered with an 80-yard scoring drive that Norwalk helped along with penalties for a late hit and a pass interference. Cole Parker capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run with 1:16 left in the third quarter. Then, the Tigers turned a shanked Garrison Smith punt into a 26-yard Parker touchdown pass to Richie Delaney. Huron converted two fourth-down plays during the eight-play drive, including the pass to Delaney, who got behind the Trucker defense on a fourth-and-6 play for the go-ahead score. Parker then put the game away with a 37-yard touchdown run on a fourth-and-1 play with 1:15 left in the game. Parker rushed for 78 yards on 20 carries and completed 13-of-23 passes for 120 yards, and an interception. JJ Holliday chipped in 50 yards on 16 carries, while Jacob Lamb had five receptions for 46 yards and Delaney added five catches for 41. The Tigers held the Norwalk rushing game in check, limiting the Truckers to just 32 yards. Huron also made life difficult for Chapin, who was 12-of-28 passing for 69 yards and a pair of interceptions. Much of the first half was played in a steady rain and featured muffed punts, interceptions and plenty of Norwalk penalties when play was suspended with 4:36 left. Neither team was able to mount much offense, with the Truckers turning the ball over twice on interceptions and the Tigers fumbling the ball twice, losing one. Huron mounted the best drive of the half which got started with a late hit on a Holliday run, putting the Tigers near midfield. An 18-yard reception by Lamb put Huron at the Norwalk 38, with Holliday picking up 12 on the next play to the 26. The drive stalled when Parker's fourth-and-11 pass to Richie Delaney came up inches short. When play resumed, the rain had stopped and the Truckers got started. Norwalk was able to collect three first downs and reached midfield before punting the ball away. Sam Battles got the ball right back by picking off a Parker pass at the Huron 36. The Truckers marched to the 11, but the final seven seconds of the half ran off as their pass into the end zone fell incomplete, leaving the game scoreless at the intermission. Special teams set up the game's first score early in the third quarter as a 36-yard Ethan Phillips punt return set the Truckers up at the Huron 36. Six plays later, Chapin hit Maloney with a 6-yard scoring toss to give Norwalk a 7-0 lead.