PINCONNING - Sep. 11, 2009 - Pinconning bounced back from a disappointing performance to open its North East Michigan Conference season Friday with a 27-13 victory over Tawas Area.

The Spartans, who lost 35-7 to Sanford-Meridian the week before, jumped to a 20-0 third quarter lead and forced the Braves out of their usual run-heavy offense.

"Pinny took away the run," said Tawas coach Tim Webb. "(They were) vulnerable to the pass, so we threw a little more. We simply committed far too many penalties at crucial times and weren't able to sustain many drives."

Pinny's thunder-and-lightning rushing combination of 6-6 Lucas Foco (104 yards) and 5-8 Tyler Espitia (102 yards, one touchdown), as well as a two touchdown passes from Casey Pashak to Espitia, put the Braves in a hole too deep to escape.

"I was happy with our fight," Webb said. "The game could have got out of hand, but our guys responded by twice putting together nice drives and punching it in the end zone."

The Braves cut into Pinny's lead with a pair of short touchdown runs from Jesse Siwek and Matt Compau. The Spartans, though, limited the Braves to 37 rushing yards on 31 carries. Siwek completed 10-of-20 passes for 190 yards and Nick Schirmer was 2-of-7 for 28 yards.

Pashak was 5-of-6 for 85 yards and two scores for the Spartans, with all but one of those completions to Espitia.

Tyler Samuels had another big game for Tawas, catching six passes for 117 yards, with Tim Schmidt catching three balls for 69 yards.

Shon Murphy led Tawas (2-1, 0-1 North East Michigan Conference) with 13 total tackles, with Justin Ott adding 11. Foco had nine tackles and Chad Pawelski had six for Pinny (2-1, 1-0 NEMC).

"Give Pinny credit," Webb said. "They were prepared, played mistake-free and their guys made big plays when they needed them.

"It was a hard-hitting game by both sides. Just as I expect this week will be against Ogemaw."