Huron drops 42-32 shootout to Genoa

HURON — Huron's offense was nearly unstoppable. So was Genoa's. Three costly second half mistakes ended up hurting Huron in a 42-32 shootout loss to Genoa on Friday at Mucci Field. The Tigers have scored 126 points in three games, but will start a new week of practice with a 1-2 record. "The turnovers really hurt. We can't turn the ball over against a good team like that," Huron coach Sam Hohler said. "They definitely took advantage of it. They wrestled the momentum away from us in the second half and we really didn't have a good answer for it." Huron senior quarterback Landon Hohler had a strong showing with his arm and legs. He completed 25 of 32 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown. Hohler also ran for two scores. Hohler completed 17 of 19 passes for 178 yards in the first half. Huron senior receiver Braxton Barrett caught eight passes for 101 yards. Genoa had an answer for Huron's offense in senior running back Luke Clement, who rumbled for 159 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries. The Comets, who have won three straight against the Tigers, rushed for 265 yards in the game and became the second Northern Buckeye Conference team to beat the Tigers this season. Oak Harbor edged Huron 52-46 in overtime in Week 1. Huron took a 32-28 lead with 9:30 to play when Hohler scored on a two-yard run. After a holding call on the two-point try, Carter Brennan hit the extra point from 30 yards out to give Huron a four-point lead. It didn't last. Genoa needed just two runs to take the lead for good. Clement went for 49 yards before Alex Materni scored from 13 yards out to make it 35-32. Huron had one last chance, but a deep pass from Hohler was intercepted by Logan Routson with 8:10 to play. Genoa nearly ran out the clock and Clement iced the win with a six-yard touchdown run with 1:13 to play. "Wish we could've found a way to win that one," Hohler said. "Tough opponent. Hopefully we learn from it and keep getting better." The Huron interception was the last of three mistakes that cost the Tigers in the second half. Genoa made two big miscues, the first a pass that was intercepted by Hohler on the third play of the third quarter. That led to a 9-yard Hohler touchdown run that gave Huron a 25-14 lead midway through the third. Genoa answered with a 14-play, 70-yard drive capped by Myles Mollenhauer's one-yard quarterback sneak. Huron couldn't handle the ensuing kickoff and Genoa took over on Huron's 21-yard line. Alex Materni scored on a nine-yard run four plays later. With a 28-25 lead, Genoa went for an onside kick and got it. Huron's defense stayed strong and Genoa's punt snap went over the punter's head and Huron took over on Genoa's 32. Hohler scored on a two-yard run six plays later to give Huron its last lead. Both offenses were in scoring mode in the first half. Huron went 58 yards and scored on Hayden Wilson's three-yard run early in the first quarter. The drive was kept alive when Hohler hit Caleb Staley for five yards on fourth-and-four from the Genoa 8. Genoa answered with a 13-play, 80-yard drive, capped by Clement's two-yard run. Huron came right back and scored on Owen Ryan's three-yard run. That score was set up by Jack Raglow's 36-yard catch and run to the Genoa 3. The Tigers' extra point was blocked and Huron led 13-7. Genoa took a 14-13 lead when 6-foot-4 Jaxon Magnone went high into the air in the end zone to snag a moonball by Mollenhauer for a 25-yard score. Huron put together another long drive and converted on fourth and 8 near midfield when Hohler hit Staley for a 13-yard gain. Six plays later, Hohler connected with Staley near the end zone pylon for a 6-yard score just 46 seconds before halftime. The Tigers get a chance to even their record next week when they host Division VII opponent Ridgedale from Marion County. "We don't feel like that (1-2 record)," Hohler said. "We feel like we're a few plays from potentially being 3-0." Genoa 7 7 14 14 — 42Huron 13 6 6 7 — 32 H — Hayden Wilson 3 run (Carter Brennan kick)G — Luke Clement 2 run (Ryan Routson kick)H — Owen Ryan 3 run (kick blocked)G — Jaxon Magnone 25 pass from Myles Mollenhauer (Routson kick)H — Caleb Staley 6 pass from Landon Hohler (pass failed)H — Hohler 9 run (kick blocked)G — Mollenhauer 1 run (Routson kick)G — Clement 9 run (Routson kick)H — Hohler 2 run (Brennan kick)G — Alex Materni 13 run (Routson kick)G — Clement 6 run (Routson kick)