Huron dominates 2nd half with big plays in Bellevue

BELLEVUE — Things couldn't have started worse for Huron on Friday night. But things got much better for the Tigers as the game wore on. Huron scored 34 points after halftime, erasing the memory of a rugged first half while running away with a 37-18 win over Bellevue. Big plays lifted Huron, now 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the SBC Bay Division. "Slow start — Bellevue threw everything they had at us," Huron coach Sam Hohler said. "I was proud of our defense in the first half and we kept our cool. "We felt we could play better in the second half and we did." Bellevue scored first on an Ashton Martin 5-yard run after Huron couldn't handle the opening kickoff. Moments later, Bellevue pulled off a successful onside kick and drove to the Huron 10-yard line with early momentum. But Huron's Cody Scroggins intercepted a pass in the end zone. With Bellevue leading 6-0, the Redmen put together a good drive but were turned away. Nic Lewallen recorded a tackle for loss and Jackson McNulty knocked down a pass on fourth-and-goal from the 9 to keep it a one-score game. The Tigers pulled to within 6-3 on Cam Manner's 30-yard field goal to end the first half. The second half turned into an aerial circus, which was won by Huron. The Tigers made big plays on offense and defense to drop Bellevue to 3-4, 0-2. Start with Scroggins to Beau Harkelroad. Harkelroad, a speedy senior receiver, finished with 14 catches for 182 yards, highlighted by a game-clinching 53-yard touchdown reception midway though the fourth quarter. Harkelroad secured the swing pass in the right flat and it looked innocent enough. Then he got to the corner and was gone. "One of his great things is his speed," Scroggins said. "We trust our blockers on the edge and challenge them to make plays and they did." Scroggins finished 22 of 27 for 279 and two touchdown passes and carried 13 times for 41 yards. He completed seven straight passes to start the second quarter and five straight to start the third quarter. The on-target senior has been connecting with Harkelroad for years. "He was my favorite receiver in the seventh grade," Scroggins said. "That combination has been lights-out since then." Not to be overshadowed by Harkelroad was McNulty, an athletic 6-foot-4 junior better known for his basketball game. He's a football guy, too. McNulty snared a 9-yard touchdown pass on a difficult fade pattern on third-and-goal early in the fourth quarter. McNulty, who caught four passes for 68 yards, used his height on the touchdown. It was a pivotal moment in the game, padding Huron's lead to 23-12. "Dawson Bowen has been out for us and we've needed a No. 2 receiver to step up and Jackson is making plays," Hohler said. McNulty nearly had two TD receptions. Early in the third quarter, he gained 43 yards on a stop-and-go route and appeared to score but was ruled down at the 1-yard line. Paul Maloney scored a touchdown on the next play to give Huron its first lead at 10-6. Bellevue lineman Gabriel Silcox was injured on the play. After a long delay he was taken to the hospital via ambulance. Bellevue answered with a long drive and a 1-yard plunge by Martin to take a 12-10 lead with 4:45 left in the third quarter. Huron responded with a scoring drive, taking the lead for good on Andrew Delaney's 3-yard run off a pitch from Scroggins. On the next play from scrimmage, Huron senior linebacker Donni Hartley intercepted Martin, giving Huron the ball on the Bellevue 24 late in the third quarter. McNulty's touchdown came six plays later. Bellevue wasn't done, though, going 83 yards on 14 plays. Martin's 7-yard touchdown run cut Huron's lead to 23-18 with 5:55 to play. Martin finished 29 for 43 with 242 yards, but had three costly interceptions. He completed an incredible 18 passes in the fourth quarter. Dylan Barger was his top target with 10 catches for 127 yards. Cooper Moyer caught seven passes for 67 yards. Bellevue also worked freshmen Ike Brown and Evan Bova into its running game. The duo combined for 16 carries, 14 in the first half. Harkelroad's explosive catch-and-run for 6 gave Huron a 30-18 lead just 11 seconds after the Redmen made it a one-score game. McNulty jumped on another onside kick attempt to give the Tigers favorable field position. On Bellevue's next play from scrimmage, Hartley nabbed his second interception and rumbled 26 yards for a touchdown, diving into the end zone in traffic. The physical 220-pound linebacker wasn't going to be denied, and his TD with 5:26 to play started the celebration for the Tigers. "I've never scored a touchdown in a varsity game," Hartley said. "The guys were giving me crap, saying I couldn't run. I think I proved them wrong." The win was Huron's first victory against Bellevue since 2001. The Redmen won four straight against the Tigers from 2013 to 2016. Hartley said his parents tried to convey to him the importance of playing Bellevue. The series used to be a rough-and-tumble rivalry, and it could be that again now that both teams are in the SBC Bay Division. "My parents were telling me about it. It was like the Super Bowl," Hartley said. "I feel like during the week we were beginning to understand it." Huron 0 3 13 21 — 37Bellevue 6 0 6 6 — 18 B: Ashton Martin 5 run (kick failed) H: Cam Manner 30 field goal H: Paul Maloney 1 run (Manner kick) B: Martin 1 run (pass failed) H: Andrew Delaney 3 run (run failed) H: Jackson McNulty 9 pass from Cody Scroggins (Manner kick) B: Martin 7 run (pass failed) H: Beau Harkelroad 53 pass from Scroggins (Manner kick) H: Donni Hartley 26 interception return (Manner kick)