Huron beats PC in Bay opener

HURON — Both Huron and Port Clinton entered Week 6 in playoff position in Division V Region 18. A loss could drop either out of the top 16 in a region where every game is crucial when you're in the middle of the pack. Huron will feel much better about its playoff odds after a 38-7 win over the Redskins on homecoming. The Tigers improved to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the SBC Bay with a trip to Bellevue next week. "For us, this was our first SBC Bay game, and it's homecoming," Huron coach Sam Hohler said. "We wanted to go 1-0 in the Bay, take care of home field. The playoffs will take care of themselves come Week 9, Week 10." Huron's passing attack led the way, powered as usual by the Cody Scroggins-to-Beau Harkelroad connection. Huron put up more than 300 yards of offense and was stout defensively, pitching a shutout while the starters were on the field. Scroggins started slow, just 1 for 5 in the first quarter, but finished 13 for 20 with 180 yards and three touchdowns. The senior also added a 42-yard pick-6 on the other side of the ball. "Both teams were kind of feeling each other out early," Hohler said. "But once we hit our stride we feel like we're really going to get some points." Harkelroad had eight catches for 150 yards and a score. Jackson McNulty added a couple of red zone touchdown grabs. Miscues and an anemic offense spelled disaster for Port Clinton. The Redskins committed three costly pass interference penalties in the first half, all of which contributed to scoring drives for the Tigers. The game was a hard-fought 10-0 contest at the half. However, the wheels fell off for Port Clinton in the third quarter. Three total turnovers and a 21-0 scoreline in the quarter put the game out of reach. PC lost the turnover battle, 4-0. Port Clinton didn't score until the fourth quarter when Huron's starters had already departed. An 8-yard touchdown run by sophomore Malakii Pinkelton served as the lone bright spot for the Skins. Port Clinton quarterback Gabe Koskela finished 5 of 7 for 52 yards and an interception. PC's dual workhorses — Dagan Meyers and Briar Rohrer — combined for 37 yards on the ground. "We've really worked on getting back to basics, tackling … the little things," Hohler said. "They've got some nice weapons and we were able to hold them down all game. It was a really nice effort." The Tigers had struggled defensively at times coming into Friday's game. They hope the dominant performance sets a new trend. Port Clinton hast lost four straight and will look to rebound on the road next week against Vermillion (3-3). Port Clinton 0 0 0 7 -- 7Huron 0 10 21 7 -- 38 H: Jackson McNulty 15 pass from Cody Scroggins (Cameron Manner kick) H: Manner 26 field goal H: Scroggins 42 interception return (Manner kick) H: McNulty 14 pass from Scroggins (Manner kick) H: Beau Harkelroad 23 pass from Scroggins (Manner kick) PC: Malakii Pinkelton 8 run (Landon Witte kick) H: Wilson Hayden 77 run (Manner kick)