HURON — The Huron Tigers used a stellar defense and an opportunistic offense Friday night, posting a 36-0 shutout win over the Douglas Patriots at Tiger Stadium. The win pushes Huron record to 2-4 on the season, while Douglas remains winless at 0-6.

“It took us a while to get things going our way tonight on offense,” said Huron coach Dru Strand, “and we got a great effort from our defense throughout to earn this win.”

Huron owned the first half completely, although the scoreboard didn’t show it for more than a quarter-and-a-half.

After both teams went three-and-out on first possessions, the Tigers got the ball with just over nine minutes to play in the quarter, at their own five-yard line after a solid defensive stand.

Playing into a strong 15-mph south wind, Huron leaned on the two-headed running attack of Landon Hulst and Thackory Hansen to move the ball quickly down the field, as both ball carriers ripped off large chunks of yardage. Hansen had a 16-yard carry and Hulst gained first downs on consecutive carries and although Huron moved down the field, the drive stalled at the Douglas four-yard line and the Tigers turned it over on downs.

“We drove the ball really well on that drive,” Strand said. “It would have been great to put the score up early, but we continue to struggle in the red zone.”

But the die was set for the game, as Huron moved 91 yards in 13 plays and while they came up empty, the Tigers took nearly five minutes off the clock.

And the field position game was tipping the field in the Tigers’ favor.

Douglas fumbled on its next possession, turning the ball back to Huron at the Patriots 29 as Cooper Bischoff claimed the loose ball. Huron was unable to take advantage, however, and turned the ball back after earning one first down.

But again, the Huron defense rose up, as while Douglas was able to move the ball, the defense was in a bend-but-don’t-break mode and got the ball back at the Huron 29-yard line after a short punt.

A quick pass to Logan Leyendecker for six yards got Huron some breathing room, then Hansen ran for 14 yards.

Quarterback Colt McNeil was sacked, but back-to-back Hulst runs moved the chains again and with 4:26 to play in the half, the Tigers broke through as McNeil lofted a pass to Blake Ellwein, who completed the 39-yard pitch-and-catch to get Huron on the board. The point after snap went awry, but holder Mason Jurgens grabbed the ball and set sail for the right maker, completing the conversion run for an 8-0 Huron lead.

Douglas got the ball back with almost four-and-a-half minutes to play in the half, but penalties forced them into a fourth-and-forever play. After a punt that netted 14 yards, Huron had the ball back with 3:13 to play and a pair of timeouts in their back pocket.

After running the ball for much of the first half, Huron opened up the passing chapter in its playbook as McNeil began looking downfield. A 30-yard pass to Anderson Porisch appeared to find the endzone, but a pass interference penalty negated the play. Facing a third-and 27 play from the Douglas 45, McNeil let Ellwein to up and outduel a Douglas defender for a 28-yard game and after two more short passes, Hansen carried the ball for the final two yards with 20 seconds to play, and after a Micah Larson kick, Huron took a 15-0 lead to the halftime break.

The third quarter was played entirely on the Douglas half of the field and turnovers on three straight plays doomed the Patriots.

Neither team was able to move the ball consistently for the first six minutes of the quarter, as Huron’s defense kept the Patriots offense bottled up, while the Tigers moved the ball but couldn’t find paydirt.

The wheels began to wobble on a first down play for the Patriots, as quarterback Connor Wright hit Casen Tibbets in the hands on a swing pass, but the ball had other ideas, slipping through the receiver’s hands and ending up in Jurgens paws for an interception.

With a first down at the Douglas 25, a pair of runs ended up with no gain, so McNeil lofted a third down pass and let Ellwein out-jump the Patriots defender for the 26-yard touchdown and Huron led 22-0 with just over three minutes to play in the quarter.

The very next play, found Wright looking for a receiver deep on the left side. Unfortunately for Douglas, the receiver had run an in route and the only player in the area was Huron’s Riley Winegar, who captured the interception and set Huron up at the Douglas 43-yard line. Carries by Hulst and Hansen moved the ball to the 22-yard line and two more runs got it to the 18.

Then McNeil rolled right, drawing the defense and then lofting a pass to Cooper Bischoff who was so wide open he looked lonely as he celebrated the touchdown. The PAT gave Huron a 29-0 lead, but seconds later, Wright put the ball on the ground on the next Patrots’ play and Bubba Peterson fell on the ball for the third Douglas turnover in as many plays.

Starting at the Douglas 30, Hulst toted the ball inside the 20, before McNeil rolled right and looked to throw the ball away, then drilled Bischoff in the right side of the endzone for the 15-yard score and a 36-0 Tiger lead, 14 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Douglas was able to mount drives that carried into Huron territory, but their best chance to score was a 48-yard field goal that fell short, as time ran out to end the game.

“I am so proud of the way our guys have continued to grow together in a team and the confidence they have built in themselves and each other,” Strand said. “I am very happy with the way our running game came together tonight and took the pressure off the offense. It is nice to pass when we want to rather than being forced into throwing the ball."

Huron rolled up 363 yards in total offense, 195 on the ground and 168 through the air. Hulst carried the ball 24 times for 118 yards and Hansen added 59 yards on 12 carries and had a touchdown. McNeil was 11-20 through the air for 168 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.

Douglas ran for 203 yards, led by Paiden Sandal’s 65 yards on 11 carries. Wright was 7-16 for 45 yards throwing the ball with two interceptions. Douglas had two fumbles in the game.

Huron travels to Aberdeen on Friday to face the Golden Eagles, one of the deepest teams in Class AA.

“Aberdeen does have a bunch of kids,” Strand noted. “They don’t play a lot of guys both ways and it will be a test to get our guys prepared and to execute. We continue to make adjustments and the young kids are adapting well. We just need to continue to do the things we need to do to compete.”

Douglas 0 0 0 0 — 0
Huron 0 15 14 7 — 36

Scoring summary
2nd quarter
H — 4:28 - Blake Ellwein, 39-yard pass from Colt McNeil. Mason Jurgens conversion run.
H — :20 - Thackery Hansen, 2-yard run. Micah Larson PAT.

3rd quarter
H— 3:05 - Ellwein, 26-yard pass from McNeil. Larson PAT.
H — 1:05 - Cooper Bischoff, 18-yard pass from McNeil. Larson PAT.

4th quarter
H — 11:46 - Bischoff, 15-yard pass from McNeil. Larson PAT.