The Hematites rolled into Ford Field hoping for a chance to finish the season undefeated and become State Champions against the also undefeated Hudson Tigers. Unfortunately they came up just short as they fell to the Tigers 28-26 in a very close game that came down to the last few plays.

The Hematites jumped out to a 6-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter after a 39 yard drive. It wasn’t until the very end of the second quarter where the Tigers ran the ball in with 1:12 left in the half to go up 7-6. The first play of the next drive the Hematites fumbled the ball on a key turnover that allowed the Tigers to jump to a 14-6 lead with only 17 seconds left in the half.

Ishpeming received the ball to start the second half but Tigers intercepted for a second key turnover. The Tigers took the ball on returning drive to the endzone on a pass to go up 21-6 with 6:46 left in the quarter. Ishpeming answered back right away with a touchdown to make it 21-14.

Hudson put themselves up 28-14 with 10:07 to go in the fourth quarter, and then the Hematites started their final comeback. First a pass into the end-zone cut the lead to 28-20. Hudson then turned the ball over on downs the following drive to allow for a final chance for Ishpeming. With under a minute to go an 11 yard touchdown pass put the score at 28-26. The Hematites came up just short though as the two point conversion was no good and Hudson recovered the onside kick.

It was a great season nonetheless for the Ishpeming Hematites as they finish 12-1 for the season and are State Runners-Up.

There is a reception for the players this Sunday on November 28th at 3pm in the New Gym at the Ishpeming High School and donations of food for the reception can be dropped off at the Old Gym anytime after noon.

Coach Olson and some of the players will be on The Big Monday Show on our sister station Sunny 101.9 FM at 6pm.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

to listen to the game.

The Ishpeming Hematites looked to finish their season undefeated against the Gwinn Modeltowners in Gwinn.

Ishpeming started the game with a jump as they reached the end zone with their first two possessions to go up 14-0.  By the end of the first quarter the Hematites were up 21-0 over the Modeltowners.

The Hematites were scoring at will to put the game at 42-0 at the end of the second quarter which had the second half start with a running clock.

Ishpeming finishes undefeated for the season and has a playoff game that will be determined early next week.  It will be broadcast right here on 98.3FM WRUP at 7pm.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

to listen to game

The Ishpeming Hemitites continue their bid for a State Championship on a cold Saturday Afternoon at Thirlby Field in Traverse City as they beat the Ravenna Bulldogs in State semifinal Division 7 high school football action.

Ravenna won the coin toss, but deferred to Ishpeming, so the Bulldogs will kick off to the Hemitites to start the game. Ishpeming was unfortunately held to 3 and out. Ravenna took over and was held scoreless on their 1st possession by a tough Ishpeming Defense.

The 1st score of the game came midway through the quarter after Ravenna recovered an Ishpeming fumble and Bulldog DB Nick Timlin ran 46 yards to score the 1st points of the game, and after the extra point kick, Ravenna leads 7-0, and that accounts for all the scoring in the 1st quarter.

The Hemitites Defense kept the pressure on the Bulldogs, with Ishpeming putting it’s 1st points on the scoreboard early in the second after a 69 yard drive, capped by a 54 yard touchdown run by RB Wyatt Jurasin  to make it 6-0. The Hemitites then go for the lead as Jurasin runs in for the 2 point conversion to make it 8-0. Then on the next possession, Ishpeming RB Wyatt Jurasin broke free and runs through the Bulldog defense for a 57 yard run to score another 6 for Ishpeming, but Jurasin was stopped short on the 2 point attempt to make the score 14-7 midway through quarter and the Hemiitites  hold the lead going into the locker room at the Half.

Ravenna had the chance to win the game with a field goal with 8.6 seconds left in the game;  The Bulldogs had the ball in the middle of the field, but tried to sweep around the right side, and were stopped short at the 6 yard line. Ravenna then had a 21 yard field goal attempt, kicking into the wind from the far hash mark, and the Bulldogs missed the FG attempt to give Ishpeming a snap, a knee and the trip to the State Championship in Detroit.

CLICK HERE to hear the game

Ishpeming will take on Hudson, the winner of the Hudson VS Warren Collegiate game. The winners will face off for the State Championship Saturday November 27th at 10am ET at Ford Field in Detroit. Mike Ploude and Bob Neddow will have the call on 98.3 WRUP.

Join Mike Plourde as he recaps the game and talks Mid Pen High School sports on BIG MONDAY, Monday night at 6pm, LIVE from the McDonald’s in the Country Village Ishpeming on SUNNY 101.9 WKQS-FM

This week on BIG Monday presented by McDonalds of Ishpeming Mike Plourde runs down all the latest highlights in local area high school sports. BIG Monday is presented and hosted by McDonalds of Ishpeming and can be heard every Monday at 6pm on Sunny 101.9 WKQS.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

to listen to BIG MONDAY

The Ishpeming Hematite continue their bid for a State Championship after a decisive win over the McBain Ramblers Saturday afternoon.

A cold gray day in the Upper Peninsula had No effect on the Unbeaten (10-0) Ishpeming Hematite’s as they hosted the McBain Ramblers (10-1) in Regional playoff action at The Superior Dome on the campus of Northern Michigan University in Marquette.

McBain got the opening kickoff to start the game, but a tough Ishpeming defense held the Ramblers to 3 and out, forcing them to punt away to the Hematite’s.

After a pair of timeout, QB Daniel Olson took off for a great 48 yard run to make it 1st and goal, then after bring pushed out of bound at the 4 yard, RB Wyatt Jurasin followed Blocker Lonnie Hess into the end zone for the 1st score of the day, with Jurasin running in the 2 point conversion to make it 8-0 early in the game.

McBain again was held to 3 and out on their 2nd possession of the game. Ishpeming again brought out the running game and moved the ball to the 1 yard to end the 1st quarter. Then on the 1st play of the 2nd quarter, QB Daniel Olson followed Marcus Manning into the end zone to make it, with QB Olson rolling out to make the 2 point conversion to make it 16-0 early in the 2nd quarter.

McBain then had a nice kick off return, with a long pass and a one yard run by McBain’s Logan Nemith, the Ramblers score on a 8 play 35 yard effort to score 6 and with the 2 point conversion, make it a 16-8 game midway through the 2nd quarter.

CLICK HERE to listen to the Game

The Ishpeming Hematite’s will take on the winner of Ravenna (8-3) and Ubly (11-0) in Traverse City. Date & Time TBA. Catch all the action on The Classic Rock Experience 98.3 WRUP

Ishpeming – When the Hematite football team left the practice field on Monday, the consensus was that it was time to take advantage of the resources around them. Not many schools in the state of Michigan can boast about the fact that they have an option to either play outdoors or indoors.

For the Ishpeming Hematites, the Superior Dome will come into play as Marquette welcomes McBain to town on Saturday in a showdown for a Division 7 regional championship. 

The Ramblers, who are 10-1 on the season, will travel about six hours for Saturday’s game. For Ishpeming, the focus will be on offense, where the Hematites will line up three All U.P. players at the “talent” positions. Daniel Olson, Gabe Eppert and Wyatt Jurasin will be called upon to put the points on the board.

But head coach Jeff Olson is looking to his defense to make plays in the regional final.

“We’re scoring a lot of points, but our defense is playing great,” said Olson after capturing a district title against Mancelona. ” You’ve got to be able to stop teams when you get further in the playoffs. You’ve got to read your keys and be disciplined.”

In what could be a battle of power against speed, The Hematites look to move on to the semi-finals with a win and face the winner of this weekend’s regional battle between Ravenna and Ubly.

Kickoff is set for 1 PM ET at the Superior Dome and Great Lakes Radio has all the coverage for you, starting at 12:30. Join Mike Plourde and Bob Nadeau on your home for Hematite sports, 98.3 WRUP with the pre-game show and all the action.