The final meeting, at least for now, of the Huron-Norwalk series at Warren Whitney Field in Norwalk Friday night went much like the previous 21 meetings between the two schools.

The Truckers made mistakes, and the Tigers were quick to capitalize on them in a 40-20 win to improve Huron to 2-0 while Norwalk fell to 0-2.

Norwalk will play Keystone in 2011 after 53 consecutive meetings with Huron. The Tigers finish with a 47-9 record against Norwalk, including 22 straight wins after Friday.

Huron raced out to a 24-0 halftime lead as quarterback Brian Bollenbacher was 12-of-15 passing for 187 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the half while the Tigers also ran the ball 20 times for 69 yards and two touchdowns.

"We used everything we had in the package in the first half and in the second half we buttoned things down a little bit," Huron coach Tony Legando said. "Sometimes it's hard when your running the spread to move the ball just trying to run it and play more conservative ball.

"Norwalk had a nice game plan and did a good job with execution. Their coaches should be proud. I know they want to win, but they played some good football tonight. I think they have their program headed in the right direction. I know they'd rather be 2-0 as opposed to 0-2, but I really felt like coming over here we were in a good football game."

In all, Huron finished with 405 yards of offense and showed big-play ability in every facet of the game.

"We need to eliminate the big plays, but it was a classic Huron team, no question," Norwalk coach Chris MacFarland said. "They are never going to beat themselves, they are physical and just very good at what they do. My belief at Norwalk is we are going to be that.

"Our kids our as fast and strong as all 10 teams we'll play, but we have to find that mental confidence and in the second half, we at least built on that tonight. We're not happy with the outcome, but I think we found out about ourselves tonight and where we can go from here."

Seven straight running plays by the Tigers opened up the game -- and the Norwalk defense -- as on third-and-4 at the Huron 46, Bollenbacher threw a deep ball up the right sideline where senior receiver Ryan Biddlecombe had beaten his defender by over 10 yards for an easy 54-yard touchdown pass and catch at the 7:45 mark of the opening quarter. Anthony Lane's first of three PATs for a 7-0 lead.

The play capped an 8-play, 85-yard scoring drive that took 4:08 off the clock.

With the Norwalk offense totaling just 36 yards in the first half, it meant the Huron offense was on the field most of the time.

After each team traded interceptions on consecutive plays, Huron covered 51 yards in eight plays, capped off by a 1-yard scoring run by Bollenbacher that made it 14-0. A 36-yard punt return by Jake Hillman gave Huron a 24-yard field, which was covered in five plays as Bollenbacher scored from four yards out fo a 21-0 lead with 5:42 left in the half.

John Dusza added a 35-yard field goal with eight seconds left in the half.

Norwalk fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half and Huron quickly covered 21 yards in four plays as Bollenbacher scored his third rushing touchdown from a yard away. The kick failed, but it was 30-0 in favor of Huron.

The Truckers responded with the next two scores in the game to nearly cut the lead in half. Dustin Crabtree carried six times for 30 yards on the ensuing drive, including a 1-yard touchdown run at the 6:47 mark of the third quarter. The PAT was no good.

After a Huron fumble, Norwalk took over at the Huron 47. On fourth-and-12 at the Huron 30, sophomore quarterback went end zone up the right sideline for Trevor Ishee, who made a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch that was bobbled initially before he held on for the scoring pass with 10:47 left in the game to make it a 30-13 game.

Huron responded with a 39-yard field goal by Dusza with 4:55 left and Hicks circled through the entire Norwalk defense on a 73-yard scoring run with 3:14 left.

Just two plays later, Crabtree answered with a 68-yard scoring run out of the quarterback position to close out the scoring.

Legando knew his team was able to capitalize on Norwalk's mistakes, and empathized with installing the spread offense.

"I know this is the second year for Chris, and it's hard to put the spread offense in and not have some mistakes along the way," he said. "Turnovers can be a problem in this offense and we've learned that lesson and paid that price over the years too."

One area that left the always-positive MacFarland upset was penalties. Norwalk committed 10 penalties for 83 yards, including two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls in the fourth quarter.

"That will be addressed hard this week," he said. "We're not going to argue with an official in regard to personal fouls. Something has happened for those gentlemen to make those calls, and it doesn't happen by mistake.

"We want to be a classy program that does things the right way, and that will be addressed this week."

Huron 14 10 6 10 -- 40

Norwalk 0 0 6 14 -- 20

H -- Ryan Biddlecombe 54 pass from Brian Bollenbacher (Anthony Lane kick)

H -- Bollenbacher 1 run (Lane kick)

H -- Bollenbacher 4 run (Lane kick)

H -- John Dusza 35 field goal

H -- Bollenbacher 1 run (kick failed)

N -- Dustin Crabtree 1 run (kick failed)

N -- Trevor Ishee 30 pass from Jake Fetherolf (kick good)

H -- John Dusza 39 field goal

H -- Justin Hicks 73 run (Lane kick)

N -- Crabtree 68 run (kick good)

H N

First downs 17 8

Rushes-yards 40-201 24-177

Passing yards 204 56

Att-comp-int 22-16-1 16-6-2

Penalties-yards 2-25 10-83

Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0

RUSHING

H -- Justin Hicks 15-135, Brian Bollenbacher 5-12, Troy DeLamatre 2-(-4); N -- Dustin Crabtree 15-126, Nick Davis 7-31, Chianti Gibson 1-12.

PASSING

H -- Brian Bollenbacher 16-22-204-1-1; N -- Jake Fetherolf 6-14-56-1-1; Crabtree 0-2-0-0

RECEIVING

H -- Jake Hillman 5-48, Trae Graham 4-30, Sean Fantozz 3-27, Ryan Biddlecombe 2-85; N -- Trevor Ishee 3-40, Darrion Cook 2-15