MAC Howland keeps streak alive, while Poland loses fourth

Lance Smith carried the ball 38 times for 172 yards and the game's only touchdown.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
POLAND -- Lance Smith rushed for 172 yards Friday as the Howland High football team defeated Poland, 7-0, in a Metro Athletic Conference contest at Poland Stadium.
Smith scored the game's only touchdown in the first quarter.
The Tigers' win was their third straight over the Bulldogs as they improved to 4-0 on the season, winning their league opener in the process.
The Bulldogs' loss leaves them winless in four tries for the first time since the 1991 campaign, dropping them to 0-2 in league play.
"We're fortunate to get out of here with a victory," Tigers coach Dick Angle said. "The weather is always a neutralizer for the underdog and it's just unfortunate that two good football teams tonight had to play in weather like this.
Sloppy weather
"Our gameplan was to try to pass the ball 15 to 20 times tonight, but field conditions prevented us from doing so," Angle said. "We feel like we dodged a bullet. We'll take the victory."
Since the weather dictated a change in game plans for both teams, the Tigers had to be happy that Smith was at his best on a sloppy track.
Smith carried the ball all seven times on the Tigers' opening series, scoring on a 15-yard run at the 6:31 mark. Little did they know at the time but that score would hold up the rest of the way.
Smith gained all 75 yards on the drive, had 101 yards at the end of the first quarter and 145 yards by halftime.
"Our kids gave everything they had tonight," Poland coach Paul Hulea said. "They played well enough to win and that is why I feel so badly for them. They left everything on the field.
"Our offensive line did an excellent job for us tonight and while I am frustrated with our record, I am happy with our work habits and the improvement that we have made each time out," Hulea said.
Poland chances
Poland had their chances in the first half but couldn't seem to penetrate the Tiger goal line.
On their first possession of the game, quarterback Dom Marchionda's pass on fourth down was deflected in the end zone. On their second series, Howland's Ryan Johnson picked off Marchionda and returned the ball to his own 43-yard line.
With 5:33 remaining in the second period, Bulldogs running back Jim Shurilla scored an apparent game-tying touchdown from 16-yards out, but a holding call nullified the run. A botched field-goal attempt three plays later gave the ball back to the Tigers.
Howland held a decided 145-68 advantage in total offense at halftime, all yards coming on the ground.
"As our feature back, [Lance] Smith knows he has to pick up the load and he did just that tonight," Angle said.
The Bulldogs got as close as the Howland 17-yard line in the third quarter, but a Fred Romeo 35-yard field goal attempt was wide left.
The Tigers held a 231-156 advantage in total yards while Shurilla led the Bulldogs with 11 yards rushing on 23 carries.
Smith had 38 carries for the Tigers.