PINCONNING - Oct. 30, 2009 - Weather conditions were anything but amenable to football Friday at Pinconning, but the Spartans overcame Houghton Lake, howling winds and a swampy field to win their playoff opener 12-0.

Pinconning got a 5-yard touchdown run from Sam Bourcier in the first quarter and a 6-yard run from Casey Pashak  late in the fourth quarter to earn the Spartans a berth in the district championship game at unbeaten Clare.

Heavy rains prior to the game left pools of standing water at one end of the field, and heavy winds blowing the length of the field conspired with the muddy conditions to keep nearly all the action in the quagmire near the north end zone.

Player from both squads -- though most of them were victorious Spartans -- took turns diving into one of the "lakes" after the game.

Pinny was able to take advantage of two possessions near the Bobcats' goal line, but Houghton Lake had no such luck. Pinny held on for the shutout despite four Houghton Lake advances inside the Spartan 5-yard line. Weather and field conditions made field goal and extra point attempts impossible.

The Spartans won despite managing just 128 yards of offense. Lucas Foco led Pinny with 49 yards rushing on 15 carries. Tyler Espitia had 28 yards on eight carries, but was carried from the field with an injury in the fourth quarter.

Casey Pashak completed 2-of-10 passes for 24 yards.

Cliff Winkler was a workhorse for Houghton Lake (6-4), rushing for 90 yards on 38 carries. Jake Orban rushed for 39 yards on five carries but had a kick return for a touchdown called back on a penalty.

Pinny improved to 7-3 with the win, its first playoff victory since the Spartans' state semifinal team of 2003 defeated Essexville Garber in the regional title contest.