Football: Huron returns with win over Flat Rock; playoffs up next
Junior quarterback Anthony Pinnace accounted for four touchdowns as Huron travelled downriver and defeated host Flat Rock 56-8 on Friday night to improve to 2-2 in their final regular-season game.
The MHSAA is requiring teams to have played at least four games to be eligible for this year’s postseason. The River Rats needed to play on Friday after missing two weeks because of Covid-19 concerns and issues within the team.
The playoff schedule is expected to be released on Sunday and finalized on Monday.
“The coaching staff did a good job of getting these guys prepared after two off weeks with the situation we had,” Huron head coach Antaiwn Mack said. “We are eligible for the postseason. We’re waiting to see who our opponent will be. We’re just going to continue to get ready, be focused and lead the kids.”
Huron lost to Saline, beat Pioneer and lost by forfeit to Ypsilanti before knocking off Flat Rock on Friday.
The River Rats didn’t waste any time getting back into the swing of things. They scored on their third play of the game as Pinnace hit Brandon Johnson over the shoulder, streaking down the sideline for a 98-yard touchdown.
Huron doubled its lead by the end of the first quarter as Pinnace picked up his second touchdown.
After both teams traded empty possessions at the start of the second quarter, Huron added another score, this time an 18-yard TD run by Pinnace down the near sideline. About two minutes later, Tyson Edmunson came in at quarterback and led a scoring drive, giving Huron a 28-0 lead with 1:41 left until halftime.
“We have a two quarterback system. Both guys can play, run, and throw. Against teams like this, we want to use our speed and athleticism and get guys into space,” Mack said. “We want to exploit matchups with our speed. Both quarterbacks did a great job tonight. Flat Rock fought hard and they weren’t going to quit.”
Flat Rock didn’t quit and got on the board just before the half as Aaron Salazar dropped a deep ball into Anthony Santilli’s arms for a 70-yard TD. The touchdown and subsequent two-point conversion left Huron with a 28-8 halftime lead.
The River Rats were rolling in the first half. They had nine first downs and seven plays of 20-plus yards after 24 minutes of play.
Huron opened the game up even more in the third quarter, scoring three touchdowns in a 5-minute span. Pinnace found Johnson for a 54-yard touchdown pass to put the River Rats up 35-8. Canido Wright’s interception on a short screen pass set up a Cameron Baldwin 13-yard TD run with 4:42 left in the third quarter.
Wallace Stovall added a pick-six as Huron put the final touches on a 48-point victory.
The River Rats defense allowed just five first downs and one play of 20+ yards, as well as forcing three turnovers. Pinnace finished with four total touchdowns and a 71.4% completion rate.
