By NEIL HESSE

Register Correspondent

PETROLIA — The Sacred Heart Catholic School Tigers opened up their season Friday with a 27-17 win over the Petrolia Pirates in Petrolia.

After a State semifinal appearance a year ago, the Tigers were clawing to get back into action.

Sacred Heart won the toss and deferred to the second half. Bob Bartush made the tackle on the opening kickoff and the Pirates began at their own 43-yard line. After a long touchdown was called back because of an ineligible man downfield, Petrolia used a methodical drive to reach the goal line. With 6:27 left in the first quarter, Petrolia led 7-0.

Petrolia held the Tigers to three plays on their first possession. Following a Tiger fumble on their next possession, Garrett Berend deflected a pass and Alex Turner and John Kraewitz each had tackles to hold the Pirates. On the ensuing possession, Matt Hesse’s pass was deflected and intercepted by Dusty Paschall and returned to the Tiger 8-yard line. Kyle Knabe had a good tackle to help prevent Petrolia from scoring a touchdown and they settled for a field goal to increase their lead to 10-0 with 22 seconds remaining on the clock.

Freshman Clay Hogan had some hard-fought yardage in the second quarter. Momentum shifted when the Pirate punter shanked a punt for 1 yard and the Tigers began at Petrolia’s 35-yard line.

Hogan and Hesse had good runs with Hesse sneaking it over the goal line from 2 yards out. The PAT was fumbled and Sacred Heart was trailing 10-6 with 6:32 left until half.

Mark Bartush had a key tackle to hold Petrolia on their next possession. After a short punt, the Tigers would begin on their own 45-yard line. The Tigers picked up a first down only to see Petrolia pick off a pass a short time later. A roughing the passer penalty nullified the interception and Hesse would make them pay as he scampered through the left side, aided by key downfield blocks from Berend and Kraewitz, and found the end zone from 30 yards out. Jae Kook Im’s PAT was good and Sacred Heart led 13-10 with 2:43 left until halftime.

Sacred Heart recovered the fumbled kickoff return and the Tigers were in business at Petrolia’s 34-yard line. Petrolia held and took over on downs. With 27 seconds left on the clock before half, a heavy Tiger rush forced an errant throw and Knabe intercepted it and returned the ball to the Pirate 22-yard line. Two plays later, Hesse hit a streaking Bob Bartush in the left side of the end zone for a touchdown. The PAT by Im was good and Sacred Heart went into the locker room with a 20-10 lead.

The third quarter was full of defense and both teams offense were held scoreless. Hogan got in several nice runs in the quarter but Sacred Heart was not able to capitalize. The successful combination of Mitchell Heaton to Dusty Paschall proved successful throughout the game. Knabe recovered a fumble for Sacred Heart to get the Tigers back on the offensive.

Paschall helped set up a Petrolia score as he picked off a pass and returned it to the Tiger 45-yard line. Paschall then was on the receiving end of a Heaton pass two plays later to pull Petrolia within three at 20-17.

Kraewitz returned the ensuing kickoff 20 yards to the Tiger 40-yard line. Hogan then picked up five yards. After an illegal procedure penalty, Hesse found Kraewitz along the left sidelines and he immediately ran through a defender on his way to paydirt. The PAT was good and Sacred Heart increased its lead to 10 once again 27-17.

The Tigers got down to Petrolia’s 15-yard line with some good downfield blocking by Chad Henscheid. There was a bad exchange between Hesse and Hogan and the ball rolled on the ground and into the Pirates hands. Petrolia made it down to the Tiger 11-yard line as time expired.