Tigers tame Rockets

By Lenny Appelhans

Sports Writer

On a cool, crisp October evening the Huron Tigers defeated the Oak Harbor Rockets 20-7 at the new and beautiful Kalahari field.

The Tigers used two second half touchdowns to break the 7-7-halftime tie.

The Rockets would strike first on a quick slant pass zipped by Steve Young and snagged by Zach Priesman covering 36 yards and a 4th down call. The Rockets drive would cover 77 yards on 14 plays and almost 7 minutes of clock.

The Tigers would fumble the ensuing kickoff but the Rockets were unable to capitalize and punted the ball back to the Tigers.

The Justin Hicks show would then begin. The diminutive running back would carry 5 straight time covering 59 yards to move the ball downfield for the Tigers. QB Brian Bollenbacher would take the glory and cover the final 3 yards for the Tigers tying score. Tony Lane's pat kick was good.

The Rockets would receive the second half kickoff, move the chains a couple of times, but the drive would stall and they had to punt the ball away.

On Huron's next possession Hicks would prove big again busting loose for a 52 yard run as Huron would drive 94 yards in 8 plays. This time Hicks tasted the end zone with a 2-yard dive. A bad snap would foil the pat kick, putting the Tigers up 13-7.

Teams would trade possessions to finish out the third quarter.

Defense would then rule for both sides over the next several minutes before an ill advised pass by Young would be picked off by the Tigers deep in Rocket territory on the Rocket 10 yard line. The Rocket D would stiffen and the Tigers field goal attempt was no good.

The Rockets and Tigers would trade punts before the Rockets started a drive from their own 35 where time would literally stand still for the next 20 minutes. A Young to Priesman pass would gain 11 yards but an apparent facemask penalty and fumble would then bring the men in the striped shirts into action.

The referees would confer with rulebook in hand for the next 20 minutes discuss the play. When all said and done the ball remained in the same spot and play resumed. Young would toss two incomplete passes before being sacked and fumbling the ball to the Tigers.

With a little under 4 minutes the Tigers would seal the deal with that turnover and march 40 yards with a steady dose of running back Derek Dowell carrying 6 straight times as Bollenbacher again finished off the drive with the touchdown run of 2 yards. Lane's pat kick was good to make the score 20-7.

The Rockets would get the ball back, but with only 34 seconds left on the game clock.

The Tigers would outgain the Rockets 286-163 with Hicks and Dowell doing the damage on the ground with 152 and 83 yards rushing respectively.

Jake Scott would cover 56 yards on the ground for the Rockets on 21 attempts and Young would pass for 102 yards.

The Tigers will go to 2-3 in SBC play and 4-4 overall.

The Rockets see their league record drop to 1-4 and 2-6 overall. The Rockets will entertain the first place Clyde Fliers at Rocket Stadium this Friday.