SPEARFISH — In a game where both teams moved the ball up and down the field, it turned out that defense ultimately ruled the day, as the Huron Tigers dropped a 14-7 game to the No. 5 ranked Spearfish Spartans Friday night, at Lyle Hare Stadium, on the Black Hills State University Campus in Spearfish.

“Our defense kept us in it tonight for sure,” said Huron coach Dru Strand. “With the mistakes and turnovers we had, to be tied into the fourth quarter says a lot about their performance.”

The game could not have begun worse for the Tigers. After getting the opening kickoff, on the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Colt McNeil tossed a short pass to the right side of the field. It sailed high over one Tiger defender, and was short to a second one. Unfortunately lurking between was Spearfish defensive back Dylon Doren, who grabbed the errant throw and rumbled 28 yards to paydirt.

After and exchange of penalties on the conversion, Samuel Marcus hit the PAT, from 29 yards and the Spartans led 7-0 after 17 seconds of play.

That was all the scoring in the first half, although both teams were able to move the ball at times.

Huron, with a full backfield for the first time this season, leaned on Thackery Hansen, with Lanson Hulst leading the way and the Tigers managed to roll chunks of yards on the ground.

McNeil threaded the needle on a pass to Anderson Porisch and another to Mason Jurgens, earning first downs on both tries, and although Huron penetrated Spearfish territory, the Tigers were not able to punch the ball in for a score.

One drive ended with an interception, which served as a nearly perfect punt, turning the ball over, but pinning the Spartans at their own one-yard line.

The Spartans concentrated on their running game, as they gave Huron a steady dose of Hunter Walters, to the left, right and up the middle. To offer a change, quarterback Thomas Hughes carried the ball and Evan Wilson also took a couple snaps in a wildcat formation.

The Tiger defense held Spearfish in check and Huron got the ball back near midfield, and made its deepest foray into Spartan territory as a pair of first downs set the Tigers up with a first down at the Spearfish 26, but three runs netted no yards and after a delay of game penalty Huron turned the ball back on downs.

Spearfish managed to move the ball deep in Huron territory late in the half, with a helping hand from an unnecessary roughness penalty. But again, the Tiger defense rose up, pushing the Spartans backward and taking possession on downs right as the half ended.

The bruising Spartan running game came the forefront in the second half.

Spearfish returned the kickoff into Tiger territory, but saw a penalty pin them deep in their own end of the field and went three and out.

A horrible punt by Marcus gave Huron the ball in Spearfish territory and when the Spartans were whistled for a facemask penalty, Huron had a first down at the Spartan 20.

But a short run, two incomplete passes and a penalty set Huron with a fourth and 22 from the Spartant 32 yard line. From there, McNeil rolled out to avoid pressure and found Riley Winegar in the right side of the endzone for the touchdown and after a Micah Larson PAT, the score was knotted with 8:19 to play in the third quarter.

The teams traded possessions, moving the ball on big plays — Walters had a 40 yard and a 50-yard run; McNeil connected with Blake Ellwein for 36 yards and another pass to Winegar — but couldn’t get into scoring position.

Huron did have another pass intercepted in the endzone to end a their most promising drive, where they had moved to the Spearfish 10-yard line.

The interception gave the ball to the Spartans at their 20 yard line and they pulled no punches, moving down the fine entirely on the ground - one pass was incomplete - going 80 yards in 10 plays. Walters keyed the drive with his 50-yarder that got the Spartans into Huron territory and the senior capped the drive with a one-yard run with 8:24 to play.

Huron’s next drive was short, as an interception turned the ball back to Spearfish. The Spartans put together a couple first downs but eventually the Tiger defense forced the turnover on downs. Huron managed to move into Spearfish territory, as McNeil found Porisch on a couple of nice completions and the Spartans helped with a pass interference penalty, but the drive ended when a Tiger receiver slipped and Spearfish intercepted the ball, Huron’s sixth turnover of the night.

“Our offense was really inconsistent tonight,” Strand noted. “The throws didn’t go our way tonight and ended up being turnovers instead of catches. Most important, we need to have a better run game, to help open up the passing attack. Right now, teams expect us to pass and play us that way. That being said, I thought our line did a good job at times. We just need to continue to find our way, cut down on the mistakes and improve for next week.”

Spearfish went three and out and pinned Huron deep and the Tigers never were able to threaten and the Spartans took the win.

Spearfish ended with 266 yards in offense - 194 of them on the ground - as Walters carried 21 times for 145 yards.

Huron had 233 yards in offense, with Hansen carrying for 55 yards, while McNeil was 15-26 through the air for 178 yards and a touchdown.

Huron will seek to regroup and get ready for the Douglas Patriots who visit Tiger Stadium Friday night. That game has a 6 p.m. kickoff.

Score by quarters
Huron 0 0 7 0 — 7
Spearfish 7 0 0 7 — 14

Scoring summary
1st quarter
S — 11:43 - Dylon Doren, 28-yard interception return. (Samuel Marcus PAT)

3rd quarter
H — 8:19 - Riley Winegar, 32-yard pass from Colt McNeil. (Micah Larson PAT)

4th quarter
S — 8:24 - Hunter Walters, 1-yard run. (Marcus PAT)