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MENOMINEE---It wasn't looking good for the Menominee High School football team in their Division Seven regional championship game on Saturday. The Maroons trailed the Charlevoix Rayders, 14-7, with less than two minutes left in the game.
But somehow, someway, the defending state champions pulled through with what some are calling the Menominee Miracle. Two touchdowns in those final two minutes, and the Maroons escaped with a 21-14 victory to advance to the state semifinals.
Senior quarterback Dylan Beal scored his second touchdown of the game on a 19-yard run to bring the Maroons to within 14-13, witrh 1:32 left, and Coach Chad Brandt decided to go for the two-point conversion. Brody Dagneau caught Beal's pass in the corner of the end zone, but That left Menominee down a point, and in bad shape.
The Maroons went for the outdie kick, but Charlevoix recovered. Rayders needed one first down to ice the game, but the Menominee defense stepped up with a critical three-and-out. And their punter (Talan Jenkins) seemingly put the final nail in the coffin by crushing a punt to the Menominee 15-yard-line.
Except sophomore Jett Thonne had a big play left in him. He bounced and weaved his way up the field, got great (legal) blocking from his teammates, and made it all the way to the Charlevoix four-yard line for an electrifying 81-yard return.
On the next play, with 52 seconds left on the clock, Caleb Barstow scored on the four-yard touchdown, and this time, the Maroons got the two-point play, and led, 21-14.
The Maroons needed another defensive stop, though. And they got it, with Big Play Jett coming through again with an interception. That sealed the Miracle in Menominee.
Beal led the way with two touchdowns, and the Maroons won despite not having star running back Jackson Myszek available. He is recovering from an ankle injury suffered in the win over Manistee last week.
And now, the Maroons, after winning three straight playoff games at home, will travel to Gaylord to face the Ithaca Yellowjackets in the state semifinals. That game will start at 1:00 Eastern, noon Central, next Saturday. RRN's Josh Kellner will be on the broadcast on FM-103.7 and at www.radioresultsnetwork.com.
