Harbor Beach 40, Bark River-Harris 0
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Pirates Roll, Shutout Broncos to Reach State Final
November 22, 2025 — MHSAA Division 08 State Semi-Finals — Alpena, Michigan
Maybe the Pirates just play their best when on the shores of Lake Huron. Maybe it’s their jerseys. Or maybe, just maybe, the Harbor Beach Pirates might just be that good. Harbor Beach scored on each of its first six possessions and forced three turnovers, while making three stops on fourth downs to cruise to a 40-0 shutout victory over Bark River-Harris in the state semi-finals. The Pirates now advance to the MHSAA Division 08 State Championship at Ford Field to face the also-undefeated Hudson Tigers.
Efficiency was the name of the game for the Pirates on Saturday, November 22, 2025. Each touchdown-scoring drive happened in seven plays or less. Benson Harper broke loose first for a 38-yard touchdown run just 83 seconds into the game. Skiler Kruse kicked through the extra point to put Harbor Beach up, 7-0 in the first quarter. Bark River-Harris’ first drive stalled at the Harbor Beach 48-yard line after nine plays, unable to convert on fourth down. The orange and black turned that stop into points six plays later when Caden Bucholtz connected with Kruse on a 38-yard pass for the score to make it 13-0 with two minutes left in the first quarter.
Bark River-Harris’ second drive was methodical over 11 plays, including a successful fake punt, but ended in the same way when Harbor Beach’s defense held strong on fourth down. As soon as the Pirate offense was back on the field, they scored when Bucholtz threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to Harper on the first play of the drive to put Harbor Beach up by three scores, 19-0 just four minutes into the second quarter. The Broncos started to move the ball on their next drive, but Gabe Spear had the ball punched out at the goal line and was recovered by John Learman. Four plays later, Harbor Beach scored yet again, this time on Bucholtz’s legs from a yard out. Kruse’s point-after kick made it a 26-0 game. The final drive of the first half ended with an interception by Harbor Beach’s Luke Bischer, which he nearly ran back for score but was pushed out of bounds as time expired.
The second half began the same way for Bark River-Harris when Learman brought in the second interception of the day just 90 seconds into the third quarter. Harbor Beach found the endzone three plays later when Kruse grabbed his second touchdown pass of the day from 24 yards out. Kruse kicked through his third of four extra points of the day to push the HB lead to 33 points, 33-0. The Pirate defense forced a three-and-out on the next drive, which Harbor Beach converted into their final score of the day, a Keagun Potestivo 49-yard run, making it 40-0 and starting a running clock just nine minutes into the second half.
Bark River-Harris was once again stopped on fourth down on their next drive inside the red zone of Harbor Beach, which the coaching staff of the Pirates utilized to work in a large majority of the second string and junior varsity players in to finish the game, still holding the shutout, 40-0.
Ameriprise Financial Player of the Game:
Benson Harper
Benson Harper may have only had four carries and one catch, but that didn’t stop him from gaining a total of 148 yards and two touchdowns.
He led the team with 81 rushing yards on four carries for a score and one catch for a 47-yard touchdown.
The Player of the Game t-shirts are made possible by our broadcast partner, Larsen Graphics of Caro.
Harbor Beach accumulated 356 yards of offense on 27 plays for six touchdowns, averaging 13.2 yards per play. Harper led the rushing attack with 81 yards on four carries for a score. Rogan Messing had two carries for 69 yards. Through the air, Bucholtz completed four of his five passes for 118 yards and three touchdowns. Kruse brought in two catches for 62 yards, both for touchdowns. Harper brought in a 47-yard touchdown catch, as well.
Bark River-Harris ran for 221 yards, with a majority from Gionni McDonough, whose 21 carries resulted in 139 yards. Spear completed one pass on six attempts for a loss of one yard, with two interceptions.
Harbor Beach now takes on the Hudson Tigers, who defeated Allen Park Cabrini on Saturday by 53 points, 67-14. The undefeated bout will take place for the MHSAA Division 08 State Championship at Ford Field on Friday, November 28 with kickoff at 9:30am. Coverage on Sports Radio 102.1FM and wlewsports.com will begin at 8:30am.
PLEASE NOTE: Video coverage will be provided exclusively by the State Champs on the NFHS Network. WLEW Sports will still be broadcasting in audio form, as always, but will not have our usual video product for the state championship.