Gladstone Rallies To Finish MPC Conference Season

IRON MOUNTAIN---The Gladstone High School football team fell behind, 12-0, but rallied to beat the Iron Mountain Mountaineers, 28-12, Friday night at Mountaineer Stadium. The Braves finish their first Mid Peninsula Conference season undefeated.

The Mountaineers stunned the Braves early on as quarterback Jacob Tucker threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Gerhard on the game's first play.

Then late in the first quarter, after the Braves committed three penalties on the one play, Tucker found Gerhard again, this time for a 14-yard touchdown catch that put Gladstone in a 12-0 hole. Both conversions failed, with a blocked kick and failed two-point conversion run.

Gladstone responded to that touchdown with a four-play drive that started with a 24-yard run by Jeff Stenson and ended with an 18-yard touchdown run by quarterback Darin Johnson.

The extra point kick by C.J. Charlebois cut the IM lead to 12-7.

The Mountaineers went on another long drive, with Tucker finding Zach Herrick for a 19-yard pass, and hooking up with Gerhard again for a 22-yard pass deep into Gladstone territory. The Braves defense stiffened inside the five yard line, however, as Cooper Cavedeas tackled Gerhard for a nine-yard loss on fourth down.

Gladstone trailed at halftime, 12-7, and got the ball first to start the third quarter. But on the first play, Spencer Husbye was stripped of the ball and Iron Mountain took over on the fumble deep in Gladstone territory. Once again, the Braves defense came up with a big play as Tucker was pressured and threw an interception to Cole Hansen.

The Braves tried a series with Jared Crow as quarterback, but his third down pass up the middle to Husbye was a bit long.

After Gladstone punted, the defense again made a statement, forcing a fumble at the 43-yard line.

This time, the Gladstone offense came through.

Johnson set up in the pocket and found Husbye in the open field, and Husbye scampered 36 yards to the end zone to put the Braves in front with 2:20 left in the third quarter.

Charlebois' extra point kick made it 14-12.

The Mountaineers had trouble on the ensuing kickoff and had to start on their own seven yard line. But they got the Braves to jump off-side on a 4th and inches play, and then, four plays later, Tucker was hit hard and was knocked out of the game with an injury.

That severely limited Iron Mountain's offensive options, as Gerhard had to go in the backfield take snaps. The Braves forced a punt, but after Stenson had a strong run to the Mountaineer one yard-line, Johnson fumbled on a handoff to Stenson.

Iron Mountain went three-and-out and had to punt, and when the Braves got the ball, Johnson again found Husbye open. This time, it was at the goal line for a 32-yard touchdown. Charlebois' kick essentially put the game out of reach at 21-12.

The icing on the cake came moments later when Hansen got his second interception of the game. He took this one to the house 45 yards for a pick-six touchdown.

Gladstone (7-1) travels to Calumet next Friday to close the regular season. Game time is 7:00.]

It will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5), WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos taken by Brenda Crow, and videos taken by Derek Vanderlinden.

You can also hear radio replays from the game by clicking the AUDIO buttons, as well as interviews with Aaron Tomac, Andy Pouliot, CJ Charlebois, Cole Hansen, and Coach Jeff Hansen.