Ishpeming, MI– October 7th, 2021– The Ishpeming Hematites scored 32 straight to defeat the Wykons 32-6 on Thursday evening. The game was broadcasted live on 98.3 WRUP.
1st Quarter- The Ishpeming Hematites kicked off to the West Iron Wykons to start the football game as the ball ended up at the Wykon 45 yard line. After several rushing attempts from the Wykons, they faced a 4th down as the elected to go for it, but were unable to convert. The Ishpeming offense started their day with a false start penalty that eventually ruined the drive, causing them to punt the football after just 3 offensive plays. Defense continued in the 1st quarter as Ishpeming caused West Iron to punt on their 2nd offensive possession. The first true turnover of the game came on the Hematites next offensive possession as Hematite QB Ethan Korp mishandled the snap on a 3rd and 9 that ended up in the hands of the Wykons, who took the ball over on the Hematite 13 yard line. The first score of the game came from the Wykons as they almost turned the football over on 4th down, but it was QB Drew Alexa finding WR Elijah Oberlin for the 6 yard touchdown pass. The Wykons didn’t convert on the 2 point conversion, so West Iron led 6-0 after 1 quarter of play.
2nd Quarter- Ishpeming started the 2nd quarter with possession and found some offense as Ethan Korp picked up a few nice gains. The offense would soon turn the football over as they were faced with a 4th and 14 and came up short. Defense returned for both teams as the Wykons punted the football after just 3 plays, that offensive possession mirrored the Hematites as Ishpeming would punt the football right back to West Iron. The Wykons had a promising drive as the ball was brought all the way down to the Ishpeming 37 yard line, but after going for it on 4th and 3, Ishpeming was once again given the football, but with only 50 seconds to go in the first half. Korp started the offensive push as he rushed for 19 yards across his own 48 yard line. Then it was Korp to Hunter Smith for the 47 yard pass completion that gave the Hematites some half time hope. It was 2nd and goal from the 9 yard line as Korp finally capitalized on the possession, it was a 9 yard touchdown pass to Connor Gauthier with only 10 seconds to play in the first half. The 2 point conversion gave the Hematites the lead.
HALFTIME: Ishpeming 8 West Iron 6
3rd Quarter- Ishpeming received the football to start the 2nd half and the opening return really opened the night up for the Hematites. The offense was set up on the Wykon 31 yard line after the 47 yard return. Korp opened the offensive possession with 2 rushes for 25 yards to bring the football to the the Wykon 6 yard line, where it was then RB Connor Gauthier who punched in the football to give his team the 16-6 lead. After West Iron scored the opening score of the game, their offense diminished as the punted once again after 3 offensive plays. The Ishpeming had a promising drive to start the next offensive possession as it was Korp rushing for 22 yards on the very first play. C. Gauthier had a nice rush of 17 yards that brought the football all the way down to the Wykon 35 yard line. Penalties would eventually destroy the drive, as Ishpeming turned the football over on 4th down. At the end of the 3rd quarter, Ishpeming led 16-6.
4th Quarter- The Wykons offensive couldn’t produce any yards to start the 4th quarter as they punted the football after 3 plays. A short punt would give the Hematites great field position as it only took a few plays for Ishpeming to cross the end zone. RB Brayden Batiste punched in a 2 yard run to give his team the 24-6 lead. With just 8 minutes left in the game, West Iron turned the football over once again offensively, giving the Hematites great field position. The field position was so great, that RB Tramon Gauthier took it to the house on the first play of the possession, ending what would be 32 unanswered points by the Hematites. The Wykons had one last push offensively, bringing the football all the way down to the Ishpeming 15 yard line, but it was Ishpeming’s Hunter Smith intercepting the football and returning it 62 yards, to officially ice the football game.
Final Score: Ishpeming 32 West Iron 6
Listen to the full game here!
The Ishpeming Hematite Varsity team will be traveling to Iron Mountain next Friday to take on the Mountaineers. Listen to the pre game show on 98.3 WRUP starting at 6:30.
