GLADSTONE----The top-ranked Menominee Maroons scored six times in the first half and rolled to 56-6 Great Northern Conference victory over the Gladstone Braves Friday night at the Marble Athletic Field.
James Brown rushed for three touchdowns and Devon Harris scored twice as the Maroons dominated the line of scrimmage and ran at will against the Braves defense.
Menominee started nearly every offensive possession inside of Gladstone territory, a couple of times because the Braves missed on fourth down conversions.
But the Maroons were also deadly on special teams, with several long punt returns.
Brown's first touchdown...on a three-yard run...came just 2:57 into the game.
Moments later, Braves quarterback Jared Hunter threw one over the middle that was intercepted by Ryne Francour. He returned it 44 yards for a "pick-six" touchdown.
After a Braves punt and a Harris return to the Gladstone 32, the Maroons needed just three plays to score again. It was a 27-yard touchdown run for Brown. After the extra point kick, Menominee had a 21-0 lead and there was still 3:37 left in the first quarter.
The second quarter wasn't much different. Brown had a 28-yard touchdown run, and then Harris scored from one yard out. It was 35-0, and there was still 6:33 left in the half. Menominee scored on a Harris-to-Devon Barley touchdown with 3:31 left.
Collin Nerat's eight-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter added to the Menominee lead.
The Braves broke the shutout on a 46-yard touchdown pass from Sam Pouliot to Riley Ballard, but Menominee responded with a one-yard touchdown run by Barley with 1:42 left in the third quarter.
There was no scoring in the fourth quarter.
Some positives for the Braves included the return of Justin Jurek, who missed the first three games with a hamstring injury that he suffered during baseball season.
Jurek had 39 yards on ten carries. Tyler Wells had 42 yards on eleven carries.
One new wrinkle for the Braves was the running of 6-2, 245-pound lineman Cody Malanowski. Yep, he got four carries, for 22 yards, out of the I-Formation.
Menominee (4-0) had 245 yards in total offense. Brown had 68 yards on five carries and three touchdowns on the ground. Justin Brlinski had 47 yards on four carries.
Gladstone (0-4) travels to Marquette for another GNC game next Friday night. Game time is 7:30. It will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5), WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com, starting at 7:15 Eastern time.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos taken by Derek Vanderlinden, and to hear audio highlights and interviews.
Menominee started nearly every offensive possession inside of Gladstone territory, a couple of times because the Braves missed on fourth down conversions.
But the Maroons were also deadly on special teams, with several long punt returns.
Brown's first touchdown...on a three-yard run...came just 2:57 into the game.
Moments later, Braves quarterback Jared Hunter threw one over the middle that was intercepted by Ryne Francour. He returned it 44 yards for a "pick-six" touchdown.
Replay of Ryne Francour's pick-six
The second quarter wasn't much different. Brown had a 28-yard touchdown run, and then Harris scored from one yard out. It was 35-0, and there was still 6:33 left in the half. Menominee scored on a Harris-to-Devon Barley touchdown with 3:31 left.
The Braves broke the shutout on a 46-yard touchdown pass from Sam Pouliot to Riley Ballard, but Menominee responded with a one-yard touchdown run by Barley with 1:42 left in the third quarter.
There was no scoring in the fourth quarter.
Some positives for the Braves included the return of Justin Jurek, who missed the first three games with a hamstring injury that he suffered during baseball season.
Jurek had 39 yards on ten carries. Tyler Wells had 42 yards on eleven carries.
One new wrinkle for the Braves was the running of 6-2, 245-pound lineman Cody Malanowski. Yep, he got four carries, for 22 yards, out of the I-Formation.
Coach Cody Kangas Post-Game Comments
Gladstone (0-4) travels to Marquette for another GNC game next Friday night. Game time is 7:30. It will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5), WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com, starting at 7:15 Eastern time.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos taken by Derek Vanderlinden, and to hear audio highlights and interviews.
