STURGIS The Huron Tigers, ranked second and seeded first in Class 11AA, faced the third-ranked and second-seeded Sturgis Brown Scoopers Friday in Sturgis and were able to grind away a 33-16 victory on the road.
The game could not have started worse for the Tigers as quarterback Anderson Porisch had the second snap of the game go over his head, bouncing into the end zone. Porisch threw the ball away to avoid a potential fumble and touchdown for Sturgis, but the intentional grounding call gave Sturgis a 2-0 lead with just 42 seconds off the clock.
Hurons defense held the Scoopers to a three-and-out, then the Tiger offense embarked on a methodical, long drive, started by a 15-yard run by Landon Hulst.
Porisch found Mason Jurgens for another first down on a 12-yard pass play, then ran twice before finding Jurgens for a 6-yard gain and another first down. Hulst burst through the line for 14 yards and a first down to the Sturgis 25.
Porisch found tight end Cooper Bischoff for 10 yards and another first down, but the drive then stalled at the Sturgis 8, and the Tigers turned the ball over on downs.
After another Sturgis three-and-out, Huron opened the next drive with a pair of 11-yard runs by Hulst for first downs. Porisch then kept the ball on a designed run to get all the way to the Sturgis 14 with another first down.
Porisch would bounce off tacklers to gain six yards and get a first down on the Sturgis 3, and he then took the ball in from one yard out to give Huron a 6-2 lead with 9:19 left in the second quarter after the extra point kick was missed.
Sturgis quarterback Jaxon Cano ripped off 31 yards on the first play of the ensuing possession to get across midfield. On fourth down, Sullivan Jost broke off his first big run, gaining 15 yards for a first down to the Huron 23. Cano found Robert Sperling for a 19-yard gain for a first down at the Huron 4.
On the next play, Cano took the ball in for four yards for a touchdown with 5:59 left. The point-after kick by Jost gave Sturgis a 9-6 lead.
Huron was able to get a first down on a pass interference penalty, but turned over the ball on downs in Sturgis territory. Sturgis then punted, and Huron turned on its passing game with less than three minutes left in the half.
Porisch found Jurgens for 15 yards for a first down to the Huron 32, then on the next play, Porisch threw the ball up for grabs to James Shoultz Jr. for a 30-yard gain into Sturgis territory.
Hulst busted a 12-yard gain around end to the Sturgis 36. On fourth-and-long, Porisch again found Schoultz on the 5-yard line and he outran the Sturgis defender to the end zone, giving Huron a score with 25 seconds left in the half. Even though they missed the extra point, Huron held a 12-9 lead at halftime.
Sturgis came out with a 3-and-out and Huron went to work on a long drive that ate up nearly half the quarter. Hulst opened with a 13-yard run for a first down and then Porisch connected with Jurgens on a pair of short passes for another first down.
On third and long, Porisch found Bischoff over the middle for 18 yards. The offense stalled for a bit but on fourth down, Porisch again found Bischoff, this time for 11 yards to get inside the red zone. Hulst then followed with a hard-fought 19-yard run for a touchdown. With the Porisch extra point kick, the Tigers took a 19-9 lead.
The teams exchanged punts, and it looked like the Tigers may have forced another punt until Jost burst through the line and outran the Huron defense for a 63-yard touchdown run. He also kicked the extra point to bring the Scoopers back within three at 19-16 with the clock ticking off on the third quarter.
Huron was very intentional about working the clock and gained a pair of first downs on the ensuing drive to get into Sturgis territory. Porisch then went around end on an option play and outran the defense for a 34-yard score and kicked the extra point to push the lead out to 26-16.
Jost had a big run to open the next drive, but he was injured and would not return. The Scoopers were able to get into Huron territory, but turned the ball over on downs.
Hulst and Porisch combined for 12 consecutive runs, gaining three first downs and getting inside the red zone. On fourth down at the Sturgis 17, Porisch threw a fade route to Riley Winegar for his first reception, a 17-yard touchdown to put the game away. The extra point made it 33-16 with less than a minute remaining.
Huron moves to 3-1 behind a huge night on the ground as Hulst and Porisch each went over 100 yards rushing. Hulst ran 24 times for 142 yards and a score, while Porisch ran for 102 yards and two scores on 18 carries. Porisch also threw 12 for 23 for 173 yards and two scores.
The Scoopers fall to 3-1. Jost had eight carries for 107 yards and a touchdown. Cano ran 16 times for 89 yards and a touchdown, but the passing offense was only able to generate 34 yards of offense and Huron was able to double the Sturgis time of possession.
Huron coach Dru Strand said that his team can celebrate – for now.
We can have some fun and celebrate tonight, but our schedule doesnt get any easier, Strand chuckled. These guys have proven to everyone in 11AA that they mean business, but we have another tough one next week with Spearfish for homecoming.
Huron will host Spearfish, who is receiving votes in the most recent poll and moved to 3-1 with a win over Aberdeen Central, for homecoming on Friday
Huron 0 12 7 14 – 33
Sturgis 2 7 7 0 – 16
Scoring summary
1st quarter
11:18 – S – Intentional grounding on Anderson Porisch in end zone. Safety.
2nd quarter
9:19 – H – Porisch 1-yard TD run. PAT kick failed.
5:59 – S – Jaxon Cano 4-yard TD run. Sullivan Jost PAT kick good.
0:25 – H – Porisch 35-yard TD pass to James Shoultz Jr. PAT kick failed.
3rd quarter
6:15 – H – Landon Hulst 19-yard TD run. Porisch PAT kick good.
0:57 – S – Jost 63-yard TD run. Jost PAT kick good.
4th quarter
10:57 – H – Porisch 34-yard TD run. Porisch PAT kick good.
0:51 – H – Porisch 17-yard TD pass to Riley Winegar. Porisch PAT kick good.
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