Braves Survive Tough Challenge To Win MPC Title

ISHPEMING---The Gladstone Braves made big plays on both sides of the ball Friday night and survived a tough challenge from the Ishpeming Hematites, 20-8, on Hematite Homecoming at the Ishpeming Playgrounds.

The win kept the Braves perfect on the season with a 5-0 record, and it clinched the Mid Peninsula Conference championship, with one league game remaining.

Ishpeming dominated much of the first half in possession time, and the Hematites hassled Braves quarterback Darin Johnson with numerous blitzes.

The Hematites took the opening kickoff 58 yards in 11 plays, with Drake Sundberg scoring from five yards out. But the Gladstone defense eventually figured out Ishpeming's unusual "inverted wishbone" offensive alignment, and the Hematites would not find the end zone again.

The Braves were down, 6-0, and facing 2nd-and-16, deep in their own territory, when Johnson heaved one up for senior receiver Spencer Husbye. Husbye was in single coverage, jumped up, got the ball, and raced away for an 82-yard touchdown. Ishpeming was able to break off some tough runs, but two key holding penalties hurt, as did turnovers.

Cody Frappier recovered a fumble after the Hematites moved inside the Braves 25 yard-line in the second quarter, and after Christian Creten got his second quarterback sack of the half, Johnson jumped up and intercepted a pass to end the first half.

In the second half, the game was still tied at 6-6, and the Hematites were inside the Gladstone 20 yard-line again. A fumble recovery by Doby Gillis turned the tide, and moments later, on a 3rd-and-10 play, Johnson finally got loose.

He sprinted to the outside, and took it to the house, helped a long by a huge downfield block by Jared Demeuse. The extra point kick failed, so it was a 12-6 Braves lead.

Ishpeming (2-3) got back on the board with a safety, after high snap went over Gillis's head. He ran back into the end zone to pick up the ball, stepped and on the end line. That made it 12-8.

When the Hematites got the ball on the "free kick", they were at midfield when the Braves defense stuffed them on a fourth-and-one play, with Alex Chouinard leading the way.

The Hematites continued to pester Johnson, with a 12-yard sack leading to another Gillis punt. The Braves, however, continued to take over the line of scrimmage defensively, with Demeuse having a clutch tackle-for-loss on 3rd-and-8 to force a punt.

Gladstone's offense continued to sputter, with Johnson being sacked for a sixth time. Gillis was called on to punt again, and he boomed one toward the goal line.

The Hematites muffed the punt, turning it over to the Braves at the one yard line.

Owen Hanson banged it home for a clinching touchdown, and Johnson hit Demeuse for the two-point conversion pass to make it a 20-8 game.

Gladstone (5-0) hosts Sault Ste. Marie for Braves Homecoming next Friday night. Game time is 7:00. The game will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (Kool 105.5), WCHT-AM (NewsTalk 600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see videos taken by Nate Bellville, photos taken by Brenda Crow, listen to radio replays and hearpost-game interviews with Coaches Jeff Hansen and Kent King, along with Jared Demeuse, Alex Chouinard, and Doby Gillis.