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Norwalk senior captain Nate Phillips looks for running room on the second play from scrimmage in the Truckers 38-14 loss at Huron in week two action at Memorial Stadium.

HURON- It was business as usual in Huron Friday night, as the Tigers cruised to a 38-14 win over Norwalk in non-conference action. The average score the past five meetings at Memorial Stadium in Huron between the two schools had been 38-12 entering the contest. Huron improves to 2-0 overall while the Truckers fell to 0-2.

The win also marked the 18th straight regular season win for the Tigers, dating back to a week four overtime loss in the league opener against Oak Harbor in 2003. It also marks the 17th straight win for Huron over Norwalk, dating back to 1988, as the Tigers now hold a lopsided 40-9 record against the Truckers.

Special teams was the spark for the Tigers, as two big plays allowed them to jump on the Truckers early. After a quick three and out to open the game by Norwalk, Calvin Black returned the ensuing punt 57 yards to the Norwalk 2-yard line. But the defense withstood the potential damage by holding Huron to no gain in three plays, and kicker Kirk Brown made a chip shot 19-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead at the 8:42 mark of the opening quarter. Another three and out by the Trucker offense it set up a 49-yard punt return for a touchdown by Huron senior Evan Deluca at the 6:59 mark, and Brown added his first of five extra points for a 10-0 lead.

"Special teams got us great field position and our defense maintained it," Huron coach Tony Legando said. "Our offense is still searching, but tonight we got some answers. I'm very proud of the adjustments the coaches made at halftime as far as pure running the ball. People expect a lot out of these kids, as they should, but we have good athletes that are still young and learning how to play the game. But compliment Norwalk, their kids kept coming and battling hard the entire game, and that says something."

The Tigers defense got in on the field position fun as Legando alluded to, as it was Brown recovering a Norwalk fumble on the third play of the ensuing series at the Truckers 28. The Tigers then went to their spread game, as quarterback Nick Basting completed four straight passes capped by a six-yard touchdown pass to Black with 4:24 left in the quarter for a 17-0 lead. Huron got 31 first quarter points a week ago at Vermilion as well. The Truckers then got their lone break of the night, as on the second play of the second quarter Brown had a punt sail over his head, and he was brought down at the Huron 1. Trent Ringle then jumped over the next play for a touchdown, and Kyle Kurtz added the extra point to cut the deficit to 17-7.

But the Tigers had the answer, however, as they proceeded to march down field for a 10-play, 61-yard scoring drive capped by a three-yard touchdown from running back Trevor Greenawalt with 7:21 left in the first half. The score remained that way at the intermission. Huron then added a pair of scores in the third quarter to blow it open. Greenawalt opened the second half with four straight runs for 64 yards, capped off by a 25-yard touchdown run at the 10:38 mark. The Tigers then added another 10-play, 61-yard drive that Black capped off with a six-yard run at the 2:00 of the third for a 38-7 lead.

"Our kids expect to play well all the time," Legando said. "You worry a little bit when we sputter, are they going to press or jump out of their element...But I liked the poise and composure they showed tonight. They understand they are still learning and I liked the way the coaches handled that. There was a lot of teaching out there instead of yelling and screaming at these guys. It's impressive. It was parent's night and our upperclassmen have a lot of class. They want our younger kids to play all the time and I like the fact that they are aware and conscious of that. That is good team chemistry, and those are the types of things that good football teams are made of. That is probably the best thing about the whole evening."

The Truckers added one more score in the final minute of the game when Trent Ringle found the corner pylon on a nine-yard touchdown run to cap a 9-play, 73-yard drive with 42 seconds left.

For first-year Norwalk coach Jeff Cole, the Tigers left a lasting first impression.

"They are as advertised," he said. "They are big, strong, and quick. There is a reason they are picked at the top of their league every year and tonight they showed it. Their secondary players and their quickness were unreal. They were making plays right over top of us before we could do anything. They gave us trouble on offense and they could get to places on defense that most people can't normally get to. We tried to give them different looks but they are very good at what they do on defense."

Cole then talked about the special teams play in the first quarter.

"We got stung on special teams again," he said. "You can't give up those kind of plays, and we've done it two straight weeks. We were in the hole right off the bat on special teams. That is why there is so much emphasis on special teams and how important they are. If you look at that first quarter you can see why. Right there was ten points for them right from the get go. We got better as the night went on, but the problem was we were done right off the bat due to those plays. Early on the defense played well and I thought we were in the right positions a lot of times. They kept us in it for a while, but getting behind like that on special teams was huge. But again, give credit to Huron, they are a very good football team."

For Norwalk, Kurtz finished 11-of-23 for 120 yards with Nate Borgeson catching five passes for 80 yards. Trent Ringle added 20 attempts for 64 yards and both touchdowns rushing the ball. For Huron, Greenawalt ran for 82 yards and a score on just 10 attempts, while Basting continues the long tradition of outstanding quarterbacks for the Tigers, as he was 10-of-13 for 115 yards with one touchdown and on interception.

While Huron entertains Avon next week, the Truckers will kick off the home portion of their season at Whitney Field when they host Perkins (1-1), who comes to town off of a 34-12 win over Keystone.

"We'll take a look at them over the weekend," Cole said. "But from what I understand, we will be facing another athletic, physical football team and we'll need to be ready."