Delaney runs strong in Tigers' win

HURON — For decades, Huron football has built its identity around the "run and shoot" offense. On Friday night against Clyde, the "run" was so dominant Huron had no need to "shoot." The Tigers offensive line set the tone up front, creating holes for senior running back Andrew Delaney to put up video game numbers — 148 yards rushing, 77 yards receiving and three touchdowns. "We felt like our O-line was getting better," Huron coach Sam Hohler said. "Delaney has been banged up all year and came out and had a great game for us." Delaney had all three touchdowns by halftime, but he didn't start the game how he wanted. After Huron (7-2) made a big fourth-down stop, it started its second possession on the Clyde 29-yard line. But two plays later, Delaney muffed a handoff, giving the ball right back. "I made a mistake to start off the game, but coming on the sideline, coaches are keeping us up and players are saying 'next play,'" Delaney said. Delaney kept grinding from his linebacker/edge rusher position on defense and got his shot to redeem himself. On the first splash play of the game, Delaney took a run to the outside and applied a nasty stiff arm, sprinting 24 yards to enter the red zone. Two plays later, the senior running back hit a 7-yard touchdown run, following a big block from senior Kyle Lehman. "All week in practice we talked about setting the tone," senior offensive lineman Vinny Majoy said. "We knew they were going to be physical, we just had to be more physical." On a windy night at Mucci Field, there was no reason for the Tigers to abandon the run. Beau Harkelroad made a big tackle on a screen pass to force a three-and-out and Delaney went back to work. He followed up a 15-yard gash with a 29-yard explosion for his second score of the night. It was 14-0 early in the second quarter but the best was yet to come. Landon Hohler had a quick read on a Clyde third down bubble screen and earned a tackle for loss, forcing a punt to the Huron 49. On the first play from scrimmage, Delaney took a screen pass to the short side and had green grass and protection up front. Majoy and junior Ben Davis got out in space in front of the streaking Delaney and it was lethal. Davis laid the first block and Majoy pancaked his man, giving Delaney an open lane into the end zone for his third touchdown. "It's the best kind of blocking for me because I'm a faster guy," Majoy said. "I love getting down the field to hit people." "That doesn't happen without them," Delaney said. "Vinny Majoy, great block downfield, put a man on the ground. I'm really excited to see that on film." Quarterback Cody Scroggins was a beneficiary of the excellent protection as well, taking a QB draw on fourth-and-1 for a 17-yard touchdown. Clyde's lone score came after sophomore Adam Young took a rush in the third quarter for 35 yards, setting up the Fliers on the 2-yard line. Kam Shortridge rushed in the touchdown for the final points of the game. This season, the Tigers have taken down three teams that historically have given them trouble — St. Paul, Bellevue and now Clyde. "Our kids understand that, our coaches certainly do," Hohler said. "The focus for us was to win today and hopefully get our seniors another home game in the playoffs." But before the playoffs, Huron will prepare for its biggest game of the season — Week 10 at Edison. Both teams enter the matchup 4-0 in the SBC Bay, and the winner will take the outright league title. "It's what you dream about as a kid, everybody wants a shot to win the SBC," Hohler said. "We know they're having a great season, we're having a pretty darn good one too." Huron 0 21 7 0 — 28Clyde 0 0 6 0 — 6 H — Andrew Delaney 7 run (Cam Manner kick) H — Delaney 29 run (Manner kick) H — Delaney 51 pass from Cody Scroggins (Manner kick) H — Scroggins 17 run (Manner kick) C — Kam Shortridge 2 run (PAT failed)