SWEET HOME - When the offense isn't there you can always turn to defense.

Sweet Home struggled to move the ball most of the game Friday against Estacada, but had the answer when the Rangers threatened.

The Huskies made several key second-half stops, and senior quarterback Kyle Pettit ran for two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 20-12 home win.

Sweet Home's coaches asked their players to be dominant on defense.

"I think we did that at times tonight," said Sweet Home defensive coordinator David Younger. "I thought our defensive line got after the quarterback pretty well."

Jacob Day, Estacada's mobile quarterback, was knocked for a loss four times, including three times in the second half.

The Rangers ran for 125 yards in the first half, but totaled just 30 in the second half.

Twice in the fourth quarter, and Estacada within reach, Pettit went down the right sideline for scores, first from 35 yards out and then from 50.

"I told my tight end (Josh Riggs) to get that (right) end, Pettit said. "He told me he was going to get (the defender) hooked, so I just went around them."

Sweet Home (1-1) made one of its biggest stands of the night late in the second quarter, after Estacada took possession at the Huskies 30 after a poor punt snap.

The Rangers (0-2) had six plays inside the Sweet Home 20 and couldn't score.

Day was sacked on fourth down as time ran out in the half.

In the fourth, Day connected with Dustin Harding for the second time in the quarter, but Sweet Home's Chaz Davis sacked Day on the conversion attempt to preserve a 14-12 lead.

On the next play from scrimmage, after Josh Riggs recovered the onside kick for the Huskies, Pettit again went around the right side to score with 2:02 left.

Estacada was unable to move the ball on its next drive, which ended with three straight incomplete passes.

The Rangers eventually got the ball back for one last play, but Day was sacked by a pack of Huskies.

Sweet Home won its first game of the season despite gaining just 176 yards to Estacada's 251.

For the second straight week, the Huskies were without several key players due to injury.

In addition, Sweet Home is competing with many first-year players.

"We are really a work in progress," said Sweet Home coach Rob Younger. "Our goal is every week to get better."

The Huskies will try to continue that improvement next week at Stayton.

Sweet Home had its share of fumbles, missed tackles and other mistakes, but Younger said he isn't worried.

"They're all correctable mistakes, and that's what I'm excited about," he said.

Estacada 0 0 6 6 - 12

Sweet Home 7 0 0 13 - 20

First quarter

SH - Adam Hummer 46 pass from Kyle Pettit (Brandon Nunn kick), 9:36

Third quarter

E - Dustin Harding 24 pass from Jacob Day (pass failed), 3:35

Fourth quarter

SH - Pettit 35 run (Nunn kick), 6:31

E - Harding 33 pass from Day (run failed), 2:14

SH - Pettit 50 run (kick blocked), 2:02

Rushing

Estacada 39-155 - Locke 21-103, Hyde 7-40, Day 11-12; Sweet Home 31-63- Pettit 11-41, Davis 5-19, Sells 6-10, Pitts 2-9, Byers 2-8, Team 3-(minus 9), Delong 2-(minus-15).

Passing

Estacada - Day 5-12-0-96, Hyde 0-1; Sweet Home - Pettit 7-18-0-113.

Receiving

Estacada - Harding 3-82, Clark 2-12, Wilson 1-9, Edwards 1-8; Sweet Home - Hummer 3-75, Riggs 1-19, Davis 2-14, Pitts 1-5.