Harkelroad shines, Huron holds on

HURON — The Huron Tigers got a gut-punch in Week 3, blowing a 20-0 halftime lead to Genoa to lose 21-20. Week 4 brought an essentially unknown challenger into Huron Memorial Stadium: Gabriel Richard Catholic from Riverview, Michigan, with just 275 students enrolled at the school and 33 players on the football roster. The Tigers responded against the unknown, pulling out to a big lead before holding on to win 38-31 and improve to 3-1 on the season. Huron led 21-0 early in the second quarter and looked to be cruising to a blowout. However, big plays from the Pioneers and miscues from the Tigers saw that lead quickly vanish. A fumbled snap inside the 10 set up Gabriel Richard to score their first points with a two yard touchdown run from Joey Calhoun. Calhoun had nine carries for 44 yards. Pioneers quarterback Nick Sobush connected with Kris Vigors on an 80-yard touchdown in the last minute of the first half. Sobush finished 7 for 12 for 174 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Huron took a 24-14 lead into halftime and nearly gave up a halftime lead for the second consecutive week. A 71 yard touchdown run from EJ Bennet and a 66 yard touchdown catch by Derek Lesko powered the Pioneers offense in the second half. Bennet had nine carries for 105 yards. The hero for the Tigers was senior receiver Beau Harkelroad. Harkelroad made a 55-yard touchdown catch in the first half that made him the all-time touchdown receptions leader in Huron football history. "Beau has been a part of our program since he was a little kid," Huron coach Sam Hohler said. "He's so humble, talking to him you wouldn't know how talented he is… I'm really proud for him" Harkelroad added a 4-yard score and a clutch 49-yard touchdown that put Huron up for good in the fourth quarter. He finished with 135 yards receiving. Senior Cody Scroggins played well behind center and had the game-sealing interception on the Pioneers' last drive of the game. Scroggins completed 12 of his 21 passes for 224 yards and three scores. "Cody did a good job spreading the wealth around," Hohler said. "Just getting the ball to our playmakers and we popped some big ones." Problems stopping the run followed Huron into this game as well, after plaguing the team in its Week 3 loss to Genoa. The Tigers gave up 185 yards on the ground and struggled to limit big plays all night. "We challenged our kids to go out and win the second half tonight and they did," Hohler said. "(Defense has) kind of been a problem for us all year. I feel like we took a big step forward tonight." Offensive miscues kept the Tigers from putting this game to bed. Huron had two fumbles in their own territory and had multiple holding penalties that erased big plays. "We held some kids out tonight… and we feel like we'll be healthier for it," Hohler said. "Anytime you have penalties and turnovers you're going to work hard in practice to eliminate them. The SBC is a meat grinder, but we like our chances and where we're at health-wise." Huron 14 10 7 7 38 Gabriel Richard 0 14 7 10 31 1st Quarter H: Dawson Bowen 52 punt return (Cameron Manner kick) H: Paul Maloney 20 run (Manner kick) 2nd Quarter H: Beau Harkelroad 55 pass from Cody Scroggins (Manner kick) GR: Joey Calhoun 2 run (Lucas Conz kick) H: Manner 17 field goal GR: Kris Vigars 80 pass from Nick Sobush (Conz kick) 3rd Quarter GR: EJ Bennet 71 run (Conz kick) H: Harkelroad 4 pass from Scroggins (Manner kick) 4th quarter GR: Derek Lesko 64 pass from Sobush (Conz kick) GR: Conz 36 field goal H: Harkelroad 49 pass from Scroggins (Manner kick)