Jake Hirschl leads Skyline rushing attack in 28-12 win over Huron
Skyline's Theron WIlson runs back an interception during a 28-12 win at Huron on Friday night.
Jeff Sainlar I AnnArbor.com
After throwing for a state record 557 yards and seven touchdowns in a loss to Pioneer last week, Skyline High School quarterback Andrew Copp walked off the field crushed.
He said he’d trade the records, all the gaudy offensive statistics, everything, for a win against his cross-town rival.
One week later, Copp got his wish, throwing for just 58 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions. He was just 6-of-17 through the air, which was fine by him because the Eagles beat Huron, 28-12.
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On a rainy, cold night, Skyline’s normally dangerous aerial attack was practically non-existent. The Eagles turned to its running game and gained 290 yards on the ground. Senior running back Jake Hirschl led the way with 21 carries for 147 yards and three first-half touchdowns.
"(Huron was) so adamant about (stopping) the pass, I think they forgot about the running backs we have," Copp said. "They played real well tonight."
"We were just trying things out and running seemed to work," Hirschl said. "We got great blocks from the offensive line."
Skyline's best offense was its defense in the first half. After being intercepted in the red zone, Skyline (3-3, 1-3 Southeastern Conference Red Division) forced a Huron punt, but a high snap went over the head of Alex Hassan and Skyline took over on the 8-yard line.
It took just one play for Hirschl to score. Skyline went ahead 14-0 on Hirschl's second score of the night after an Alex Belanger interception once again gave the Eagles a short field to work with.
Defense and running may not be Skyline's calling card, but coach Rod Jones was pleased to see that side of his team.
"You have to play to the conditions and that’s what we did tonight," Jones said. "It’s about being a team, being multi-faceted and that’s what we did. I think we did that pretty well tonight."
Huron drove 88 yards and got on the board with a Dorian Williams 15-yard reception with 3:14 left in the half to make the score 14-6.
But Skyline answered before halftime, with a 34-yard run by Hirschl that put Skyline's halftime lead at 21-6.
Huron (1-5, 1-3 SEC Red) struck first in the second half with a 20-yard run by Jaavaid Love with 8:14 remaining in the third quarter to shrink Skyline's lead to 21-12. It would be Huron's only points of the half.
"We're proud of the way we played hard tonight, but we're down nine starters right now. Nine. I don't know very many teams in the state of Michigan that can lose nine starters and play championship football," said Huron coach Cory Gildersleeve. "It's tough man, I'm proud of these kids. I'm proud of my team and how hard we're playing."
Even absent a passing attack, Skyline found a way to get the ball in the hands of its biggest playmaker, Jordan Woods, who scored on a 48-yard end around for Skyline's only points of the second half at 5:56 of the third quarter.
Parish Thomas led Huron with 14 carries for 85 yards.
Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2561, by email at petercunningham@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
Pat
Sat, Oct 1, 2011 : 12:07 p.m.
"Championship football?" What fantasy world is Gildersleeve living in? They have won one game. Why are they missing nine starters? Academics? Doesn't a good coach ensure his players are doing what they need to do to stay on the field.
Pete Cunningham
Sat, Oct 1, 2011 : 8:20 p.m.
Pat, coach Gildersleeve said most of the nine starters were out due to injury, but that some were "discipline" issues. He did not elaborate, but did nothing to hide that fact.
factsonly
Sat, Oct 1, 2011 : 1:03 p.m.
He runs study table 3 days a week before practice. He has ran grade checks every week since the second week of school. He is trying to change a losing culture at Huron with its football program so why wouldn't he talk about goals of championship level football with his players? This past game was game one of the "AA City Championship" for Huron. The seven of the nine starters out last night were injured. The other two got suspended from school the day of the game. I guess they got caught doing something they shouldn't have by the community assistants that work in the Huron building. Wonder if the community assistant that works at Huron but coaches football at Skyline had anything to do with that? Facts Only.