Barnes Rushes for Five Touchdowns as Saline Defeats Huron

Justin Barnes ran for 355 yards and as Saline defeated host Ann Arbor Huron, 45-25, in varsity football action Thursday night.

The Hornets (3-4, 1-3 SEC Red) overcame early turnovers and found a way to limit speedy River Rat back Parish Thomas as the game went on to crack a three game losing streak and win their first SEC Red game this season.

It was a big win for the Hornets, who recently lost in overtime to Bedford and then lost to Monroe in the final moments after a thrilling second half comeback.

“We had two tough losses. It just feels good to get back to dominating the way we can,” said Barnes.

The senior has played well and gained tough yardage for the Hornets all season. But in Thursday’s game, the 6-foot, 220-pound had a field day. In the third and fourth quarter, Barnes often broke through the line untouched. Other times, he steamrolled whoever was in front of him, even has he carried River Rats on his back.

“It felt great. It felt like I was on top of the world,” said Barnes, who gave credit to his offensive line. “It was wide open. I had too many decisions to make. I just put my head down and ran.”

Coach Mike Glennie said it wasn’t the plan to run Barnes up the middle all game. In fact, the team spent much of the week working on the passing game.

“We take what they give us. We’re going to run jet sweep on everyone and if they take that away from us, there’s something else we can do,” Glennie said. “They tied to stop our jet, so we threw in on Justin’s back and let him carry it.”

Barnes rushed the ball 27 times.

Gage Hammond rushed nine times for 101 yards and a touchdown. Hunter Leslie carried seven times for 47 yards.

Defensively, Derek Owings had seven tackles and three sacks. Matt Goeman had seven tackles and broke up two passing plays. Brandon Gordon made five tackles, picked off a pass and broke up two passes.

It wasn’t the greatest of starts for Saline. After Hammond rushed for 17 yards on the first play from scrimmage, the Hornets fumbled the ball away at the Huron 33. On the River Rats first play, Parish Thomas bounced through the Hornet defense and sprinted up the sideline for a touchdown.  Grant Strickler’s kick made it 7-0.

On the kickoff, Hammond returned it to the 43. Runs by Leslie and Barnes moved the Hornets over midfield. After offsetting penalties, Barnes gave Saline another first down on the ground. Two plays later, Hammond took the hand off from quarterback Reece Dils and zipped through the defense for a 21-yard touchdown. Dylan Mulder’s kick made it 7-7.

The River Rats started their next possession at the 23 and gained 34 yards on the first play with a halfback pass. A few plays later, Huron had first and goal at the Saline five. The Hornets kept the River Rats out of the endzone with big plays by Leslie, Gordon and Alex Kendig. But the River Rats took a 10-7 lead with an 18-yard field goal by Strickler.

Things looked like they might ugly for Saline when, on the first play of the next drive, the River Rats defense stripped the ball from Hammond and recovered the fumble. Huron started at the Saline 26 and after a passing play from Alex Hassan to Demetrius Sims netted 21 yards, the Hornets defense put up al wall. Owings made a tackle on first down and passes fell incomplete on second and third down. Huron settled for a field goal and led 13-7 with 1:23 to play in the quarter.

Gordon returned the kickoff to the Saline 37. Two big runs by Barnes pushed Saline to the Huron 33. From there, it was Barnes again, finding a hole, breaking a tackle and sprinting 33 yards for the score. Saline led 14-13 after Mulder’s kick.

Huron returned the favor with a 79-yard drive that finished with a five-yard keeper by Hassan. The pass on the two-point conversion failed and Huron led 19-14 with 6:59 to play.

The Hornets wasted no time. They began their next drive on the 44.  After a penalty, the Hornets kept the drive alive with a 17-yard passing play between Dils and Joe Zakrajsek, who made a nice sideline catch before stepping out of bounds. Two runs by Barnes moved the ball down to the 15. After a nine-yard gain by Leslie, Barnes rushed it up the gut, spinning off a tackle for a six-yard touchdown run. Mulder’s kick made it 21-19 with 2:52 to play in the half.

Saline’s defense Huron to punt after just three plays on their next possession. The Hornets started at their 48 and seemed like they might stall until Barnes picked up 27 yards on a fourth-and-two. The offense couldn’t get any closer than the 14. Mulder booted a 27-yard field goal with 10.9 seconds left in the half for a 24-19 lead.

Saline’s was nearly as miserly on Huron’s drive to open the second half. After a first down, the Hornets shut down the River Rats. Owings made a big stop on third-and-4 to force the River Rats to punt.

Saline began at its nine. But Barnes gave them room to breathe with a 38-yard rush on first down. He rushed for two more first downs. After a 10-yard scamper by Leslie, Barnes rushed in from six yards out. Mulder’s kick made it 31-17.

Huron was dangerous on their next possession. On first-and-10 from their own 33, Hassan tossed a short pass to Thomas, who looked dead in his tracks five yards behind scrimmage. But Thomas bounced off his tackle, rushed veered back toward the center of the field and then pinballed through the Hornets for a 46-yard gain. But the Hornets ended the threat on the next play when Brandon Gordon intercepted a halfback pass at the Saline four.

The Hornets took over with 5:45 to play in the third. It was nearly all Barnes, who gained 83 of the yards on the 96-yard drive, scoring from the eight-yard line. Mulder’s kick made it 38-19 with 2:19 to play in the quarter.

The River Rats showed promise until a sack by Owings and a tackle behind scrimmage by Craig Smith put an end to it.

Saline started its next drive at its own 32 and quickly moved up the field on the ground. A 13-yard sweep by Hammond put the ball on the Huron 16. From there, Barnes rushed in off tackle. Mulder’s kick made it 45-19. Huron added a fourth quarter touchdown but failed on the two-point conversion.