Kuhns dominates on ground, Sailors retain Win Oar

HURON — Evan Kuhns missed the end of last week's five-overtime loss to Port Clinton with an ankle injury. The Vermilion senior left little doubt Friday that he's back. Kuhns, a fast, powerful running back, carried 25 times for 259 yards and three touchdowns to lead Vermilion to a 28-21 win over Huron at Mucci Field. It was Vermilion's second straight last-minute win against the Tigers, which means the Sailors will retain the Win Oar for at least another year. "It feels amazing, especially after sophomore year against Huron didn't go too well," Kuhns said. "To be able to come in here and beat them back to back is an amazing feeling." Just like last year, the rivalry game was tied late before Vermilion's running game delivered. Huron scored on Landon Hohler's tough 2-yard run to tie the game 21-21 with 4:19 play. That proved to be plenty of time for the Sailors, who went 66 yards on nine plays. Kuhns scored on a 15-yard run, bouncing outside and beating a few Tigers to the end zone with 47 seconds to play. Huron got the ball close to midfield as time expired. The Sailors improved to 5-3 overall and 1-1 in the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division. The Sailors finish the regular season at home against Edison before traveling to Bellevue in Week 10. Huron fell to 3-5, 1-2, and saw its playoff hopes take a big hit. The Tigers play at Perkins next week before finishing at Edison. Vermilion's winning drive was kept alive when quarterback Drake Hooks connected with Aiden Saunders for 11 yards on third-and-11, giving Vermilion the ball on its own 44-yard line. Three plays later, Kuhns took an inside handoff from another running back and rumbled 20 yards. It was an effective play that worked more than once and helped the Sailors pile up 326 rushing yards on 34 attempts. "We call that criss-cross," Kuhns said. "We like to get people to key on one run and switch it up on them." Kuhns went for three yards and Isaac Kyser gained 12 before Kuhns broke loose with the game-winning run. The Sailors scored all of their points in a dominant second half. Their four possessions in the first half ended with a pair of punts after holding penalties and interceptions by Huron's Braxton Barrett and Nathan Porterfield. Huron scored on its first possession to take a 7-0 lead. The Tigers went 45 yards in 13 plays to get Senior Night started on a high note when Hayden Wilson scored on a 1-yard run. The drive was set up by Jack Raglow's 26-yard kickoff return. That was all of the scoring in the first two quarters. "The first half we were killing ourselves with penalties, turnovers," Kuhns said. "In the second half, we locked in and flipped the switch. It felt amazing knowing that basically anything we were gonna run would go for four or five yards. "Big shoutout to my O-line. They do all the hard work and I get all the credit for their dirty work." Kuhns started slow with just four carries in the first quarter, but heated up in the third quarter with nine carries for 143 yards. His right ankle was taped, but he looked just fine while raising his season rushing total to 1,379 yards in seven games. "It felt pretty good," Kuhns said. "It was kind of rough to start, but I think I needed to convince myself that I was feeling good and to keep going." Kuhns scored on a 30-yard run early in the third quarter and the game was tied 7-7. The big spark that led to Vermilion's first score was a 13-yard pass on third-and-13 from Hooks to Brock Meyers, who fought through two Huron defenders for the first down. Huron answered as Hohler went 5 for 5 passing on a 68-yard drive. Wilson gave Huron a 14-7 lead on a 2-yard touchdown run. It took the Sailors just four running plays to tie it again. Isaac Kyser gained 43 yards before scoring on a 5-yard run. Huron went three and out and Vermilion took a 21-14 lead on another four-play drive — all runs. Kuhns sprinted 37 yards before scoring from 1 yard out. Huron wasn't finished. The Tigers went 59 yards and scored on Hohler's 2-yard run. The drive was kept alive by Caleb Staley's remarkable catch that netted 10 yards on fourth-and-8. Staley jumped high into the air to make the grab. Hohler finished 26 for 40 for 206 yards. Vermilion 0 0 14 14 — 28Huron 7 0 7 7 — 21 H — Hayden Wilson 1 run (Carter Brennan kick)V — Evan Kuhns 30 run (Micah Smith kick)H — Hayden Wilson 2 run (Brennan kick)V — Isaac Kyser 5 run (Smith kick)V — Kuhns 1 run (Smith kick)H — Landon Hohler 2 run (Brennan kick)V — Kuhns 15 run (Smith kick)