Highland hopes to sink Pirates

It's not the Riverside Rockets or the the Ainsworth Tigers anymore. It's the Highland Huskies and these dogs are barking at the chance to go to the UNI-Dome for a football game next Friday.

To do that, Highland must find a way to sink the Hudson Pirates' ship Friday in Hudson in a Class A quarterfinal.

Highland won its first playoff game last week in its third appearance in the postseason, although the Highland-Lone Tree shared program made two playoff appearances, finishing second in 1997.

The Pirates finished second last season and this is their sixth consecutive playoff appearance. Hudson won state titles in 1975 and 1994. The Pirates have made the playoffs 17 times and have a 17-15 record in those appearances.

Hudson is ranked first in Class A and has been atop the AP rankings all season.

However, Lynville-Sully was ranked third at one time and the Huskies won that game 25-22. Alburnett was ranked sixth and the Huskies won 18-8. Pekin was ranked sixth and Highland won 23-21. Durant was ranked seventh and the Huskies won 14-13.

Maybe the margin of victory isn't large, but Highland knows how to secure a victory over a ranked team.

'We have told our kids that it is just another game and to keep everything in perspective,” Highland co-head coach Scott Morel said.

As with any football game, turnovers will make a huge difference. Turnovers are bound to happen with these two teams on the field. The Pirates are second in Class A in fumble recoveries, and Highland leads A in interceptions.

'The turnover battle is big and with that, it is part of the special teams,” Morel said. 'We could have a 3-and-out, but if they run a fake punt and get it, it feels like we turned the ball over.”

That happened against Durant last week during a 17-play drive and led to the Wildcats' touchdown with under 4 minutes in the game.

Hudson defeated Lynville-Sully last week 44-22.

The Pirates (10-0) average 36 points a game and allow 12.4. Highland (8-2) averages 26 points a game and gives up 14.8.

'I see a lot of similarities in our teams,” Hudson coach Justin Brekke said. 'Neither of us are not necessarily a running or passing team, but more of a whatever-it-takes-to-win team offensively.”

Highland's offense is 10th in Class A in total yardage with 3,582 (2,523 rushing and 1,059 passing) while Hudson is 15th with 3,340 (2,412 rushing and 928 passing).

The Pirates run a spread offense with one running back, two slots, and two splitend receivers. Defensively, Hudson will run anything from a 3-5 to a 6-man front.

'It simply depends on what we would like to focus on and attempt to take away that week,” Brekke said.

'Being able to sustain drives and put points on the board will be a big key,” Highland co-head coach Joe Donovan said. 'Winning the turnover battle will also be another big key. We will need a diverse attack to keep them off balance and from pinning their ears back and coming after us. Controlling the line of scrimmage and getting first downs to control the clock will play a pivotal part of the game.”

The Pirates are sixth in Class A in scoring.

'We hope to contain them and not let them get the big plays that get momentum,” Morel said. 'They have big-play ability and they are a sound team. They have some really good players.”

While Pirates quarterback quarterback Jacob Murray (6-5, 181 pounds) is 59 of 132 with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions, running back Christian Seres (5-10, 186) has ground out 24 TDs with 1,532 yards on 223 carries for an average of 6.9 per attempt. Ethan Fulcher, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound junior, is second on the team in rushing (61 for 568 and a 9.3 average), first in receiving (16 for 231 for 14.4 average) and he is 13th in A with 86.5 tackles and tied for 12th in tackles for loss with 13.

'We will need to minimalize mistakes on both sides of the ball and do our best to make sure every offensive drive ends with a kick,” Brekke said.

Highland's Trey Lasek is second in the class with six interceptions. Brady Hahn leads the Huskies in tackles with 79.5. Brody Burton has 11 tackles for loss.

On offense, Lasek is sixth in A in total offense.

'Highland is a dangerous offensive team that also plays great defense by rallying to the football and not giving up very many points,” Brekke said. 'They are a well-coached and prepared team out there.”

Hudson has seven seniors and seven juniors on its 37-man team.

'We will need to lean on our seniors and upper classmen that have played in these types of games both in leadership roles and stepping up on the field when the game is on the line,” Brekke said.

Highland has 33 players with 10 seniors and seven juniors.

'It is going to be a great game and the team that makes the least mistakes and doesn't turn the ball over will win,” Brekke said.