HURON — The Huron Tigers football team came roaring out of the gates Friday night, scoring on its first six possessions and 49-6 opening season win at Tiger Stadium.
Tiger coach Michael Schmitz had expressed his hope for a quick start against the Patriots, who completed a 28-yard pass for an early first down. But the Tiger defense stiffened and forced a punt.
After a motion penalty, before even snapping the ball, Huron ran its first play of the game from the Douglas 30-yard line.
Senior quarterback Jett McGirr lived up to his name, running a read-option, keeping the ball and jetting for a 70-yard touchdown.
The Huron defense was revved up after the long score, forcing a fumble on the second play of the series for Douglas, which was recovered by Spencer Lord for the Tigers.
Again, Huron scored on its first play, as Walker Schiltz took a handoff right up the middle for a 19-yard score.
Douglas ran two plays on its next possession, before Matt Katz stepped in front of a David Severson pass, to put the Tigers offense in business at the Patriot 15-yard line.
Chipper Shillingstad carried the ball twice for Huron, the second one a 10-yard touchdown run, and the first quarter was not half expended yet.
Douglas came out for its next possession and seemed committed to running the ball, starting at its own 24, converting on third down twice and moving into Huron territory.
But a motion penalty and a muffed handoff forced the Patriots into a long third down play, and Huron forced a fumble on a double reverse. Junior Blake Larsen scooped up the ball and returned it 38-yards for the Tigers and the quarter ended with Huron ahead 27-0.
Douglas quickly found itself facing a fourth-and-forever on its next drive and muffed the punt snap and Huron took over on the Douglas 25.
On the first play of the Huron drive, McGirr hit Landon Hegg on a swing pass, and Hegg shed a couple tackles and scored on the play.
A common theme was repeated on the next Douglas possession, as the Patriots fumbled on the second play, with Larsen coming up with the ball. It was the fourth turnover forced by the Tigers in the half.
Hegg had a short run for the Tigers, then caught a 10-yard pass from Larsen for Huron’s first first down of the game, with seven-and-half minutes to go in the half.
Larsen closed the deal on the next play, hitting paydirt from 18 yards out and Huron pushed its lead to 40-0, a margin it carried into halftime.
Huron had the ball to start the third quarter and moved down the field before its drive stalled. Bryce Steffen was called in to punt and his effort was downed at the Douglas 1-yard line.

The Patriots ran two plays before Parker Broer broke through the line for Huron, tackling Noah Vinson for a safety.
The teams traded possessions, with Huron winning the field position battle, forcing a fourth down and taking over on downs deep in Patriot tackle.
A long Larsen run set the Tigers up first and goal from the 8-yard line. The third quarter ended after a short run by Lord. After the teams switched ends, Huron ended the drive quickly, as sophomore Tyson Lien lugged it in from three yards out.
Douglas broke up the shutout on its first play of the fourth quarter, as quarterback David Severson heaved it down the middle and Vinson was able to haul it in and score, from 62-yards out, to make the score 49-6 after the missed PAT.
Huron seemed content to run out the clock, but Larsen found a seam and rumbled deep into Patriot territory, with a first down at the 19-yard line. Three runs set Huron up with a fourth and inches and a Daynon Huber field goal came up short.
Huron took over on downs after the next Patriots possession was three-and out and was able to run out the clock and secure the season opening win.
With the quick start by his team, Schmitz was able to get nearly every player on his roster into the game for some valuable varsity experience.
“This was a good overall effort,” Schmitz said after the final gun. “We came out firing and we kept them in check on defense with good energy and our offense took advantage of good field position and punched it in the endzone.”
For the game, Tiger kicker Thacher Dramstad was 4/6 on PATs and came up short on his one field goal attempt of the game. Huber also converted a PAT kick for Huron.
Huron rolled up 180 yards on the ground with more than 10 players logging positive yards in the game. The Tigers only threw two passes - McGirr completed one for 25 yards and Larsen made a 10-yard completion.
Huron will be on the road next Friday, as they will play the second game in the Hub City Bowl in Aberdeen, against the Aberdeen Central Golden Eagles.

Douglas       0  0    0  6 — 6
Huron         27   13  2  7 — 49

Scoring summary
1st Quarter
Huron - 9:12 - Jett McGirr, 70-yard run. (Thacher Dramstad PAT)
Huron - 8:46 - Walker Schiltz, 19-yard run. (PAT blocked)
Huron - 6:35 - Chipper Shillingstad, 10-yard run. (Dramstad PAT)
Huron - 1:17 - Blake Larsen, 38-yard fumble recovery return (Dramstad PAT)
2nd quarter
Huron - 9:14 - Landon Hegg, 25-yard pass from McGirr. (Dramstad PAT)
Huron - 7:04 - Larsen, 18-yard run (PAT no good)
3rd quarter
Huron - 7:16 - Parker Broer, tackled Douglas runner for a safety.
4th quarter
Huron - 11:57 - Tyson Lien, 3-yard run. (Daynon Huber PAT)
Douglas - 11:36 - Noah Vinson, 62-yard pass from David Severson. (PAT failed)

MIKE CARROLL/PLAINSMAN
Huron defensive back Hayden Hegg (22) breaks up a pass intended for Douglas’ Noah Vinson during their season-opening football game on Friday night at Tiger Stadium.