Harrison tames St. Louis on homecoming for 5-0 start

By BEN MURPHY

Cleaver Sportswriter

Starting the season 5-0 just flat out feels pretty good. The Harrison football team gets to enjoy exactly that, after they topped visiting St. Louis on Friday, 30-14 on homecoming night.

“It has been a great start to the season, we have not been 5-0 since 2014, so it feels great,” head coach Jamie Lipovsky said after the Jack Pine Conference Division 2 win. “St. Louis was very physical.  We knew this going in and had to out muscle them. I felt our conditioning helped up secure the victory.”

The Sharks entered the game on a two-game winning streak, securing victories over Pinconning and Farwell. The Hornets were able to use their size and strength to their advantage though, as they won the game by wo possessions.

“The offensive and defensive line played awesome,” Lipovsky said. “St. Louis was very big up front, and it was one of those games where it reminded you of a heavyweight fight.  Both sides just kept hitting each other.”

The Hornets claimed an 8-0 lead after the first quarter and led 16-0 at the half and made the spread grow into 24-0 at the half. The Sharks did manage to score twice late in the game, but Harrison was able to finish the game safely.

The Hornets were led by Logan Williams, who ran 26 times for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Wayne Baehr carried the ball 11 times for 68 yards and a touchdown and Matt Latunski was four-of-seven passing for 99 yards and one touchdown. Williams had one reception for 53 yards and Talon Hamilton had three grabs for 46 yards and a touchdown.

The defense featured a 12-tackle performance from Williams. Kaleb Williams and Alex Jansen had 10 tackles apieces each, Aiden Brewer took down eight, Hunter Lafeve and Gavin Vanburen had six tackles each and getting five each was Baehr, Ray Cosgrove and Case Brand. Latunski had his hand on four tackles. Cosgrove also hauled in an interception for another defensive highlight.

Harrison (5-0 overall, 3-0 JPIC Division 2) hosts Pinconning (4-1, 2-1) in a key league battle on Friday. The Spartans are enjoying one of their best starts to a season in many years and are coming off a win over Farwell last week, 40-8.

“There is a good chance that this game will decide the fate for who is the number one seed in the lower division of the Jack Pine Conference,” Lipovsky said. “Like us they are a run first offense.  They do a good job of shoving the ball down your throat so it will most definitely be a test for us.  I know they will come into Harrison with their best game, so we had better be ready.”