Ishpeming, MI – It’s getting harder and harder to come up with different ways to express how much the Hematites have dominated week after week. Athletes are notoriously creatures of habit, but the Hematites were unfazed playing in Norway on a Saturday afternoon. As a matter of fact, they seemed to come out sharper than in previous games, scoring 30 first-quarter points. For the first time this season, quarterback Alex Briones’ passing statistics outperformed that of his rushing, at least on scoring plays. Briones hooked up with receivers Tyrus Millimaki & Marcus Antilla on 32- & 36-yard touchdown passes, respectively, in the first quarter and also added a three yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter. The senior has shown week after week that he is a top player in the MPC. Bobby Zhulkie also continued his rushing success scoring two more touchdowns and rushing for 60+ yards once again.
Once again, the story of the game has to be Ishpeming’s defense. It has been five weeks, and the defense has yet to allow a score. This has got to be one of the most complete teams in MPC history. They have a true dual-threat quarterback in Alex Briones, a tough runner in Bobby Zhulkie, fantastic receivers in Tyrus Millimaki & Tyrus Antilla, and one of the best defenses in recent memory. It will be interesting to see what the Hematites will be able to do once they make the playoffs again. Regardless of how the Negaunee game turns out next week, they’ll be in the playoffs, and they’ll be a force. It is a very exciting time in Ishpeming, and I hope these kids are enjoying every second of it.
The Hematites will now travel out of state to take on the Cardinals of Crandon, WI. Crandon(4-2) has been an inconsistent team offensively so far this season tallying scores of 48, 36, 8, 36, 6, and 28 respectively. Whether or not they’ve beaten themselves in their two losses, or they may just be preying of weak defenses will be shown this Friday when Ishpeming comes to town. It will be a challenge for the Hematites though, that is an awfully long way to travel on a school-day for a football game. Coach Olsen will have his work cut out for him if he’s going to keep the kids focused and ready to play. If the other long trips have been any indication (@Manistique & @Calumet) he shouldn’t have much of a problem keeping his boys in line.
Be sure to join Mike Plourde & Bob Nadeau this Friday Night as the Hematites go across the border to Wisconsin to take on the Cardinals of Crandon. You can catch it all on 98.3 WRUP or streaming live at WRUP.com. Kick-off is at 8pm EST; Pre-game is at 7:30. Go Hematites!
-Carl L. Johnson