Ishpeming, Michigan – November 6th, 2015 – It’s Hematite Friday Night on Real Classic Rock 98.3 WRUP and WRUP.com! Playoff action from Ishpeming on Friday night as Mike and Bob were LIVE from the Ferrellgas Broadcast Booth in Ishpeming, Michigan. The Honor Credit Union Pregame Show was sponsored by Honor Credit Union – It’s Your Money! Honor Credit Union has locations in Gwinn, Marquette, and Negaunee. The Ishpeming Hematites were getting ready to take on the Iron Mountain Mountaineers in Ishpeming on Friday night.
The Ishpeming Hematites were able to win the opening coin toss, and as usual, they elected to differ receiving the ball until the second half of play. Luke Kuliu opened the game with a squib kick, but Iron Mountain was able to jump on the ball with good field position. The Hematites held tough on defense as the Mountaineers drove toward the goal line to take control deep in their own territory. While still deep in their own territory, Thomas Finnegan caught a big pass and ran for a 96-yard touchdown to make the score 6-0 after the missed two point attempt. Iron Mountain nearly fumbled the kickoff, but they were able to recover the ball with decent field position. However, the Hematites quickly stopped Iron Mountain’s offense to regain control of the ball. Ishpeming was unable to move the ball and were forced to punt the ball to Iron Mountain. Halen Carello made a huge interception to give control of the ball back to Ishpeming, and they were able to convert that into another touchdown. After the two point attempt was incomplete, the score was 12-0 with just under one minute left in the first quarter.
The Ishpeming Hematites started the second quarter on defense, and they looked to continue their strong play from the first quarter. The Hematites seemed to have stopped the first Mountaineers drive of the quarter, but a fake punt into a pass gave Iron Mountain the first down. Iron Mountain fought their way down to the one yard line, and finally after three unsuccessful attempts, they were able to score their first points of the game. After the extra point attempt was good, the score was 12-7 in favor of the Hematites. With just over three minutes left in the first half of play, Iron Mountain took control of the ball on downs, and Ishpeming looked to put a stop to their drive. The first half of play ended with a score of 12-7, only on 98.3 WRUP and streamed live at WRUP.com!
Halftime Score:
Ishpeming Hematites: 12
Iron Mountain Mountaineers: 7
The second half of play opened with the Iron Mountain Mountaineers kicking off to the Ishpeming Hematites. Ishpeming nearly lost the ball on a fumble on the kick, but they were able to recover the ball on their own 27 yard line. Iron Mountain stopped the Hematites who were forced to punt, and they were able to score a touchdown on a long pass play to make the score 14-12 after a good extra point kick. On the Hematites very next drive, Nick Comment scored on 25 yard pass play from Ozzy Corp, and after the unsuccessful two point attempt, the score was 18-14 with just under seven minutes left in the third. The Mountaineers fumbled a punt from Ishpeming, and the Hematites recovered on the 46 yard line. The Hematites held control of the ball until the end of the third quarter with a score of 18-14 in favor of Ishpeming.
The Ishpeming Hematites started the final quarter of play in control of the ball and threatening to score. On the second play of the final quarter, Ozzy Corp made a huge pass to Luke Kuliu to score another touchdown, and after the failed two point attempt, the score was 24-14. On the kickoff, the Mountaineers again fumbled the kick, but they were able to recover and regain control of the ball. On the Mountaineers next drive, Luke Kuliu intercepted an Iron Mountain pass, nearly clinching the game for Ishpeming, with less than ten minutes to play. As the quarter wound down, both teams traded the ball back and forth, but Iron Mountain had all three time-outs remaining, giving them a sliver of a chance to win. However, Ishpeming held strong as Ozzy Corp took a knee to end the game!
The Ishpeming Hematites take the win and defeat the Iron Mountain Mountaineers 24-14 on Real Classic Rock 98.3 WRUP and WRUP.com! Stay tuned as we’ll keep you posted on the latest Hematite news and where they’ll play next here on 98.3 WRUP and WRUP.com.