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Escanaba Dominates Gladstone In Showdown, 35-14
 ESCANABA---The Escanaba High School football team qualified for the state playoffs Friday night by handing the Gladstone Braves their first loss of the season, 35-14, before a jam-packed crowd at the Escanaba Athletic Field. The Eskymos showed why they're ranked No. 1 in the Upper Peninsula, despite the fact that Gladstone came into Friday's contest undefeated.  The Eskymos got on the board midway through the first quarter as Craig Kamin hooked up with Ryan Robinette on a 30-yard touchdown pass on a 3rd-and-10 play. The possession was set up by a big special teams play: an Eskymo blocked punt. Escanaba doubled its lead in the second quarter on a 74-yard, ten play drive, that was capped off by a one-yard quarterback sneak by Kamin. That was set up by a bruising 19-yard run by fullback Cody Vandermissen, and an 18-yard run by speedster Scout Wunder. Gladstone managed to get into the locker room down by just two scores, and the Braves made their best offensive drive of the game as Owen Hanson caught a swing pass and took it deep into Escanaba territory. Hanson then broke off a 20-yard run, but then on a three-yard run to the Eskymo two yard-line, Hanson suffered an ankle injury. Brody Sanville replaced Hanson in the backfield and was stuffed on the next two plays. Then the Braves tried to get Johnson wide for the touchdown on fourth down, but the Escanaba defense stiffened. That was the turning point in the game, as the Eskymos took the ball and rammed it down the field on a 98-yard, 17-play drive.  He completed a 23-yard pass to Wunder, and had an eight-yard run in the red zone. Vandermissen punched in the TD run. Then, disaster for the Braves, as Jared Crow replaced Johnson at quarterback (with Johnson going to wide receiver). Crow's pass hit Spencer Husbye in the hands, popped up into the air, and into the arms of Hayden Haslow for an interception. On the next play, Kamin tossed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Wunder, and after Christer Carne made his fourth straight extra point, Escanaba led, 28-0. Gladstone scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, with Husbye catching a tipped pass of his own and taking it 55 yards for a "pick six" touchdown. Crow later hit Husbye up the middle for a 50-yard touchdown to give the Braves their final points. Escanaba's Nick Onate scored a four-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter as well. The Eskymos travel to Oconto, Wis., next Friday, while the Braves are on the road at Iron Mountain. The Gladstone-Iron Mountain game will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5), WCHT-AM (600), and rrnsports.com. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos taken by Brenda Crow, videos taken by Derek Vanderlinden, listen to radio replays, and listen to interviews with Jared Ness and Trent Marenger.  |
