ISHPEMING, MI – It would have been the most shocking game of the season had Gwinn come to The Playgrounds and upset the Ishpeming Hematites last Friday night. It wasn’t meant to be. Ishpeming finished their season with a perfect game, shutting out the Modeltowners 46-0, and also clinching the MPC title. Mitch Laurin started off the game for the Hematites with a bang, scoring twice for the Hematites within the first six minutes, one on an interception return, and the other on a one-yard pass from quarterback Alex Briones. Briones also threw another touchdown to Noah Olgren, as the Hematite showed some depth in the receiving game. Also scoring for Ishpeming was Bobby Zhulkie, Tyrus Millimaki, & Nate Meyer scoring on runs of 14-, 50-, & 43-yards respectively.
This Friday night is when the Hematites will begin the true defense of their Michigan Division-7 title. They’ll have a tough test right off the bat as they’ll play host to the Mancelona Iron Men who finished the season at 7-2. This will be a game that the Iron Men really want to win, as they were knocked out of the playoffs by this same Ishpeming team one year ago in a 32-0 blowout. Ishpeming of course went on to win the state championship and become a national news story. If Mancelona wants a chance to change this season’s outcome, they’ll have their work cut out for them. On the ground Ishpeming is loaded with Briones, Prisk, and Zhulkie, while through the air there’s Millimaki, Laurin, and Olgren. There are A LOT of weapons at Coach Olsen’s disposal.
Be sure to tune into 98.3WRUP this Saturday afternoon for ALL of your Ishpeming Hematite football action. Kickoff is at 1PM & Pre-game is at 12:30. GO HEMATITES!
-Carl L. Johnson