ISHPEMING, MI – OCTOBER 8, 2020– The Ishpeming Hematites Junior Varsity looked to continue their early-season dominance with a hastily put together match-up with rival Negaunee. A couple big plays would prove to be the difference for the Hematites in this defensive battle, Ishpeming would take this one, 20-8.
First Half –
Negaunee would start the contest with the ball, Ishpeming defense would come out tough and force the Miners to give up the ball quickly. The Hematite offense was met with a stout defense after a great Miner punt, they would give it back to Negaunee.
On the next play after the Ishpeming punt, Negaunee would break through the line for a big gain, but right at the end of the run, a blue and white jersey popped the ball out through the back of the end zone, giving Ishpeming a touch back.
It would be a quick first quarter with a new rule that applies to the game clock, all knotted up at zero after one quarter of play. (This rule does not apply to varsity.)
The defensive slug-fest would continue into the second quarter with neither side giving an inch for the first eight minutes.
A Negaunee fumble and penalty would set up the biggest play of the half for the Ishpeming offense, a deep pass would put them on the 2-yard line with six minutes left in the half. Ishpeming would try to go up the gut a couple times, but the Miner defense stood tall in the red zone. Brayden Batiste would cough up a fumble on third down, giving the ball back to Negaunee with three minutes left in the half.
The Miners moved the ball quickly, looking to get the first points of the game on the board before halftime. A great run out of the end zone and a deep pass from Easton Palomaki to Jace Turri would give them that chance, but a holding penalty would kill the momentum.
Half Time Score – Ishpeming 0, Negaunee 0.
Second Half –
Ishpeming would have the ball to start the half, after putting and then getting the ball back from the Miners, Ishpeming would break the stalemate punching in a 60-yard reception from Logan Hurkmans, the two-point conversion was no good, 6-0 Ishpeming.
The Miner offense would respond with their most complete drive of the night. Kaiona Lacar would be the main weapon for the Miners on the drive, the Miners would convert 5 first downs on a drive that ate up over seven minutes of clock and ended the first quarter.
Going into the fourth with the Miners still driving, Ishpeming 6, Negaunee 0.
The fourth quarter saw the Miners drive fizzle out around the Ishpeming 5, the Hematites would take over and looked to control the quarter.
Ishpeming would strike on the second play of the drive, 94-yards to the house went Logan Hurmans on a dime from Hunter Smith, the Hematites went up a commanding 14-0 after a successful two-point conversion catch from A.J. Prosser.
Negaunee would move the ball rapidly on the ensuing possession and Easton Palomaki would find the end zone on a quick 2-miunte, 6-play drive. The two-point conversion would be successful and the score would read 14-8 Ishpeming.
Ishpeming would struggle to drive on the next possession, but right when it looked like the Hematites would give the ball back to the Miners, a Negaunee penalty would extend the drive and the Hematites continued to burn clock.
The Miners would eventually get the Ishpeming offense off the field and with a great return, they were sitting pretty for a final drive. Well, that would have been the case if a Negaunee fumble on the second play of the drive didn’t give the ball back to the Hematites, Negaunee would only have one timeout left with three minutes left.
Ishpeming would do more than they needed to, Preston Gauthier would burst through the line taking it 70+ yards to the house, putting this one out of reach.
Final score – Ishpeming 20, Negaunee 8
Join Tyler Young and Bob Nadeau as the Ishpeming JV football team takes on the Gogebic Miners at 6:30, pregame show starts at 6:15 on 98.3 WRUP.
LISTEN TO A RECORDING OF THE LIVE BROADCAST HERE.
