Early lead not enough as Bobcats fall

ONE TOUCH (Above) Houghton Lake senior midfielder Zach Burnside sends the ball toward the goal off a throw-in during a game against Bellaire on Bobcat Field Sept. 11. The Bobcats played to a 3-0 lead in the first half, but fell to the Eagles 4-3 in overtime. (Photos by Thomas Reznich) After dropping a non-conference contest to Oscoda Sept. 10, the Houghton Lake varsity soccer team blew a 3-0 halftime lead and lost to Bellaire in overtime the next day.

Oscoda 3, HL 2

Houghton Lake scored first but Oscoda matched them and added one more in the Owl's 3- 2 home victory over the visiting 'Cats Sept. 10.

Brian Moore scored the first goal with a shot to the left corner of the net after receiving a breakaway pass from Cody Frantz, giving the Bobcats a 1- 0 lead in the first few minutes of the half. The Owls answered a few minutes later on a miscue by the Bobcat keeper to tie the score at the half, 1-1.

In the second half, Moore scored his second goal of the game on a "beautiful cross" by Zach Burnside which Moore headed into the goal, Coach Scott Bockelman said. Oscoda also struck again, tying the score at 2-2. The Owls were able to grab the win on a "hard shot to the corner from the penalty line," Bockelman said.

BREAKING IT UP (Right) Houghton Lake freshman defender Adam Frey (left) breaks up a run by Bellaire's Jack Laosamathikul during Thursday's Bobcat home game. The 'Cat's defense held the Eagles scoreless in the first half of the game. "We seem to be susceptible to the long distance shot defensively," Bockelman said. "Our reaction is too slow and pressure is not enough. Our team was moving and controlling minutes later with a score of its own. A failed 2-point conversion preserved Roscommon's lead at 8- 6.

Robert Clement scored next for the Bucks, running the ball in from 14- yards out. A failed PAT increased Roscommon's lead to 14-6 with 3:08 left in the first quarter. Clement added his second touchdown of the night just 44 seconds into the second quarter when he returned a Beaverton punt 85 yards to paydirt. Vince Austin added the PAT for Roscommon and the Bucks led 21-6.

After stopping Beaverton on its next possession, the Bucks got the ball back but turned it over on a fumble to end its next series. The Beavers took advantage of the miscue when Raymondjames Hicks rumbled in from 7-yards out to add six points to Beaverton's score. Jacob Wessel added a 2- point conversion and Roscommon's lead was 21-14 with 6:43 left in the half.

After Roscommon was unable to make anything of its next possession, the Beavers took over with just over a minute left in the half and drove the ball from deep in their own territory to Roscommon's redzone. With five seconds left in the half, Roscommon sacked the Beaverton quarterback but a holding penalty on Roscommon gave the Beavers another chance and a pass to Ryan Hedrick made the Bucks' pay. A 2-point conversion by Peter Schwab gave Beaverton a 22-21 lead as time expired in the first half.

Neither team would score in the second half as Beaverton held on for the slim one-point win.

"The loss was extremely disappointing," Coach Don McKindles said.

The Bucks actually outgained Beaverton offensively, racking up 277 yards rushing on 37 attempts and 41 yards passing on 2-for-8 completions by quarterback Nathan Jernigan. Beaverton had 229 yards rushing and 49 yards passing. The Bucks had five fumbles but only lost one while Beaverton had three fumbles and lost one as well. Roscommon threw two interceptions while Beaverton had one.

Osim led the Bucks with 175 yards rushing on 14 carries while Clement had 100 yards on 20 carries. Jimmy Fry had one reception for 28 yards and Osim had one for 13 yards.

"[We] played well enough to win, but we failed to take care of assignments repeatedly and these 'little things' add up and cost us terribly," McKindles said.

Steven Rondo led Roscommon with nine tackles while Zack Willis and Osim each had eight and Preston Geers had seven.

The Bucks (0-3 overall) host Meridian (1-3) Friday night.

"When all of our players take ownership of this team, we'll get a lot better," McKindles said. "Until then, it's anybody's guess."