Miners break 6-game losing streak with 20-point win

BESSEMER - Playing in some real football weather on Friday night, Gogebic played its best game of the season and rolled to a 38-18 win in its homecoming game.

"It feels good," Gogebic coach Mark Movrich said. "It's been awhile since we won a game. (Aug. 29). I watched a lot of film on Houghton and they gave Lake Linden and Northland Pines tough games. I thought the key was us getting off to a quick start and getting momentum. It would have been easy for us to go through the motions after starting 1-6. But we banded together and I couldn't be prouder of the kids.

"I was concerned because we dominated the first quarter, but then it was 6-6. One wrong play and it could have been 'here we go again.' We always answered the bell tonight. We were really able to run the ball (376 yards) and the line really blocked up front and got to the second level and also pass blocked well."

And the Miners played short-handed with injuries and five suspensions. Movrich gave his team props for fighting back against adversity.

"Collin Gagnon took his first snaps at quarterback yesterday and ran the offense very well," Movrich said. "You have to give him credit."

Houghton coach Karl Borree wasn't so happy with his team's performance.

"We played bad and they played better than us," Boree said. "They wanted it more than us. They played harder and tougher and their backs ran over the top of us.We did not come here ready to play."

Greenough stepped up for the Miners in a big way. On the sixth play from scrimmage, he ran the option with Gagnon, weaved through four tacklers and showed his heels to the defense going 66-yards for a score.

In the second quarter, Houghton tied the game on a quarterback sneak, but Greenough scored on a three-yard run and then Gagnon tossed a 16-yard TD to Greenough as Gogebic went into half-time with a 26-12 advantage.

In the third quarter, Greenough made reservations for six as he scored again from the 13-yard line. Greenough would score three running touchdowns and one receiving touchdown. He carried the pigskin 18 times for 185-yards.

"They really fed me the ball tonight," Greenough said. "But I would have to give it to my team more than myself because they really came to play tonight. Everything here is like the Miner family and I really like playing for the Miners. I played harder tonight, because we really needed the win and it was homecoming. It was definitely one of my best games."

Sophomore running back Brayden Tomes also got a chance to show his stuff as he ran hard and was rewarded with 119-yards on 21 attempts. He also scored two touchdowns.

Ryan Hemming's name was all over the defensive stat chart and he led the Miners in tackles. Freshman Cody Schwartz seems to have a nose for the ball as he recovered two fumbles and intercepted a pass.

Houghton (3-3 WP, 3-4,) takes a ride across the Portage Lake Bridge to take on Hancock in the traditional Copper Bowl on Saturday.

The Miners (0-3 GWC, 2-6 ) finish their season by traveling up U.S. 2 to play arch-rival Ironwood on Friday at 7 P.M.

Houghton 0 12 0 6 - 18

Gogebic 6 20 6 6 - 38

First Quarter

Gog - Caleb Greenough 66 run (pass failed), 9:06

Second Quarter

Hou - Jordan Reynolds 2 run (run failed), 10:19

Gog - Greenough 3 run (Greenough from Collin Gagnon), 7:09

Gog - Greenough 16 pass from Gagnon (run failed), 3:06

Gog - Brayden Tomes 6 pass from Gagnon (run failed), 2:36

Hou - Quentin Stachowiak 46 run (pass failed), 3:46

Third Quarter

Gog - Greenough 13 run (pass failed), 2:58

Fourth Quarter

Gog - Tomes 27 run (run failed), 8:18

Hou - Sean Hyslop 43 pass from Reynolds (pass failed), 7:04

Hou Gog

First downs 10 17

Rushes-yards 16-107 56-376

Comp-Att-Int 6-15-1 4-10-1

Passing yards 122 52

Total yards 229 428

Fumbles-lost 5-4 3-2

Penalties-yards 8-55 3-20

Individual Statistics

Rushing - Houghton, No. 22 8-44, Quentin Stachowiak 2-41,Jake Rajala, 1-5, Sean Hyslop 3-8, Hunter Richards 3-minus 7. Gogebic, Colin Gagnon 3-10, Cody Harden 10-51,Caleb Greenough 18-185, Brayden Tomes 21-119, Bailey Ribich 4-10.

Passing - Houghton Sam Jordan Reynolds 6-15-1-22, Gogebic, Colin Gagnon 4-10-1-52 .

Receiving - Houghton Hunter Ricghards 4-52, Sean Hyslop 1-43, Quentin Stachowiak 1-17, Gogebic, Brayden Tomes 3-36, Caleb Greenough 1-16.