Final drive gives New Boston Huron first win over Milan in five years

NEW BOSTON − When the game is on the line, New Boston Huron's Gavin Moczydlowski trusts his coaches to execute a winning plan.

"We believe in them," Moczydlowski said. "We believe we can go down the field and score."

That trust goes both ways.

Huron's coaches believe in Moczydlowski, too.

The senior quarterback tucked and ran the ball on five straight plays and scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:15 remaining to deliver a 13-12 victory against Milan Thursday night.

It was Huron's first victory over Milan since 2017. The Big Reds had won five straight contests until Thursday.

Moczydlowski's humility was nearly as sharp as his running ability on the winning drive.

"We just did what was working," Moczydlowski said. "It was my linemen really. They did their job and we got down the field and scored."

PHOTO GALLERY: New Boston Huron football hosts Milan

Huron's final drive had a feeling of fate.

Milan threatened to add to its 12-7 lead with under 5 minutes to go when the tides turned against the Big Reds.

Huron's Marco Tylutki intercepted as pass at the 25-yard line and returned it back to midfield. A flag for a late hit added even more yards and Huron started the drive at Milan's 33.

Moczydlowski ran for 10 yards.

Moczydlowski ran for 9 yards.

Moczydlowski ran for 8 yards.

Moczydlowski ran for 3 yards.

Moczydlowski ran for 3 yards and a touchdown.

"He's a very good runner," Huron coach Tom Hoover said. "They (Milan) were overcompensating to some of our formations. We weren't getting anything off tackle earlier running with different backfield sets, so we changed the formation and isolated them one-on-one on the back side and he delivered. They missed him.

"He put his head down and made some great runs. He has it in him. He deceptively tough to tackle."

Huron's defense was given the task of sealing the victory.

Hoover never doubted the outcome.

"Our defense is what kept us in the game," he said. "That's the strength of our team right now."

Milan made one big play on the drive, but Huron's defenders made many more.

Rory Callahan had a big tackle for loss, Tylutki, Ryan Anderson and Sammy Farrufia had pass breakups, and Micah Smith picked off the final pass after great pressure from lineman Joshua Buettner.

"We tried to get it in the end zone and not leave them any time, but when you're trying to get out of here alive, you just want to get it in the end zone even if you leave time," Hoover said. "We gave up some turnovers early, but we got some of them late, so it balanced out I guess."

Moczydlowski finished the game with 17 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown. He also was 4-for-10 passing for 136 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.

Ethan Woolery had 2 receptions for 51 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown catch on Huron's opening drive in the first quarter.

That drive set the tone, Woolery said.

"Coming off a loss (in Week 1), we had to be ready to come out and execute," he said. "That was our momentum. That was it. Everything we did from that point on, we just wanted to go, go, go. It all came back to that touchdown."

Huron lost its season opener 28-7 to Milford last week. So, it was vital that the team bounced back with a victory.

"It was very important because if you go to 0-2 and then you go into Riverview, things can start getting slippery," Hoover said. "It was important to get our confidence back. We overcame a lot of adversity this week, so I'm proud of the kids. They didn't get down."

Milan moved in the opposite direction.

The Big Reds were coming off a 47-0 victory in Week 1 against Berkley, but their offense could not find the same stride against Huron.

"They were really tough defensively in the first half," Milan coach Jesse Hoskins said. "They gave our run game trouble."

William Gaskell V led Milan's rushing attack with 53 yards on 10 carries. Brady Bovenkerk added 6 carries for 25 yards and Ronny Johnson had 10 carries for 18 yards.

The Big Reds found more success through the air.

Bovenkerk was 13-for-26 passing for 136 yards. He had two touchdown passes to Connor Dessellier in the second half. Dessellier finished with 7 catches for 45 yards, Carson Baugher had 3 receptions for 46 yards, and Johnson added 45 yards on 3 catches.

Milan missed the PAT on the first touchdown and failed to covert for 2 points on the second.

"Missing the extra point proved to be costly," Hoskins said. "It wasn't overall a very clean attempt on our part."

Defensively, Hoskins said the Big Red defense did everything it could to give the team a chance at victory.

"Our defense allowed a touchdown early but after that we weathered the storm and played really solid defense," Hoskins said. "It was a defensive battle for the majority of the first half. Then second half, we captured the momentum and we scored twice."

Hoskins said the team is still on the right track.

"We're in a great place," he said. "The kids had a great week of practice. We were very prepared and felt great about the game. The kids played very tough. ... We obviously made some mistakes, but I don't question our preparation or our kids' toughness. Usually in situations like the fourth quarter, that stuff goes our way. Tonight it just didn't."

First Quarter

NBH - Ethan Woolery 18 pass from Gavin Moczydlowski (kick)

Third Quarter

M - Connor Dessellier 6 pass from Brady Bovenkerk (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

M - Dessellier 10 pass from Bovenkerk (run failed)

NBH - Moczydlowski 3 run (pass failed)

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Rushing: Gavin Moczydlowski, NBH, 17-98; Williams Gaskell V, M, 10-53; Brady Bovenkerk, M, 6-25; Ryan Anderson, NBH, 4-25; Ronny Johnson, M, 10-18; Micah Smith, NBH, 8-17.

Passing: Brady Bovenkerk, M, 13-26-136; Gavin Moczydlowski, NBH, 4-10-136.

Receiving: Ethan Woolery, NBH, 2-51; Carson Baugher, M, 3-46; Connor Dessellier, M, 7-45; Ronny Johnson, M, 3-45; Ryan Anderson, NBH, 1-45; Rory Callahan, NBH, 1-40.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Final drive gives New Boston Huron first win over Milan in five years