Shorthanded Miners lose at Norway, head to Munising

By JASON JUNO

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Bessemer — Shorthanded Gogebic suffered their first loss of the season 54-22 at Norway Friday night.

The Miners were without Gabe Harju, Cayden Harju, Owen Miljevich and Wyatt Aspinwall. Cayden Harju sustained a leg injury in the first game of the season, Gogebic is waiting to find out how serious Gabe Harju’s foot injury is, Miljevich went down with a non-football injury the day before the game and they’re hoping Aspinwall starts his season this week at Munising.

“It makes a little bit of a difference, that’s for sure, four guys from the running back room that are injured and three guys that are linebackers. We had to make due with what we had,” Gogebic coach Nick Heikkila said. “It’s tough. Guys stepped up for sure. We did some shuffling around. We ended up moving one of my tight ends slash guards to the running back position — Matt Switzer, he did well blocking and even running for a touchdown.”

The Miners were waiting on appointments to be completed for Gabe Harju, an All-U.P. Dream Team linebacker last year. He broke his left foot late last season, it’s a tendon issue in his other foot this year, Heikkila said.

“Hoping for the best, just preparing like next man up,” he said.

Norway led 32-6 at halftime. Gogebic scored first in the second half, but Norway squashed their comeback hopes from there.

Norway’s Owen Baij caught four touchdown passes and ran for one. All-U.P. First Team quarterback Cole Baij threw for five touchdowns; he was 10 of 15 for 163 yards.

Bode Lynott led the Miners with 103 yards on 20 carries. He ran 46 yards for a touchdown. Cory Aspinwall carried it 13 times for 63 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown. Switzer rushed three yards for a touchdown and finished with 46 yards on four carries.

Switzer caught two two-point conversions and Lynott ran for one.

Lynott was 8 of 12 through the air for 96 yards and a long of 28. Five different receivers caught passes — Patrick Perron (2-42), Ben Kaurala (2-30), Jayden Verrett (2-15), Aspinwall (1-6) and Switzer (1-3).

“Cory Aspinwall (14 tackles, 6 solo) really stepped up defensively this week,” Heikkila said. “Bode Lynott also had a pretty good day on defense as well (11 tackles, 5 solo, 1 for a loss, 3 passes defended). Matt Switzer did well (8 tackles, 3 solo, 1 for a loss).”

Aiden Partanen caused a fumble and Leland Hollenbeck recovered it.

Gogebic (1-1) goes to Munising for a 6 p.m. CDT game Friday night.

The Mustangs are 2-0 with wins over Ironwood (48-14) and Lake Linden-Hubbell (48-22).

“Long trip, that’s for sure,” Heikkila said. “We got to really focus on getting the guys off the bus. We started off slow against Norway, picking it up in the second quarter, started being able to move the ball on them and make some stops. Getting off the bus is going to be a big thing and getting back to the win column, that’s the goal, and keep the guys focused.

“Just looking for a good week of practice, get healthy and come out of the week with a win.”