Red Devils fall on fourth-quarter rally by Lakes

By JASON JUNO

sports@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood —A couple of key fourth-quarter plays went Lake Linden-Hubbell’s way as the Lakes beat Ironwood 16-14 in a heartbreaker for the Red Devils Friday night.

Ironwood led 14-8 until the Lakes scored the go-ahead touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. The Lakes converted on fourth-and-long to the Ironwood 1 to keep that drive alive. 

The Devils nearly responded with a score of their own, but a holding call stalled the promising drive, giving Lake Linden-Hubbell the win.

“I was happy how they played, super physical, super tough, I thought the most physical and tough we’ve been this year, so that was good to see for sure,” Ironwood coach Kevin Lane said. “Obviously frustrating loss for sure.”

The Devils certainly played well enough to win.

Ironwood recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff and scored a touchdown on it. Brendan McCullough ran four yards for the score and a 6-0 Ironwood lead 2:05 into the game.

LL-H took over at its own 1 on an interception near the end zone very early in the second quarter. The Lakes kept control of the football for much of the period, scoring on a four-yard run by Nate St. Onge with 3:09 left in the half. He ran in the conversion for an 8-6 lead that lasted into halftime.

The Devils scored next on their second drive of the second half. McCullough tallied his second touchdown of the day, a seven-yard run with 2:09 left in the third quarter. He also ran in the conversion for a 14-8 advantage.

The Lakes followed with a frustratingly effective drive to take the lead and win it. 

LL-H converted on fourth and short at the Ironwood 26. Then on another fourth down, this time fourth-and-10, Brady Axford found Danny Mikus for a 24-yard pass to the Ironwood 1. Josh Daavettila followed with a one-yard touchdown run and St. Onge ran in the conversion for the 16-14 lead with 6:54 left.

“We made a play on it,” Lane said. “Evan (Oja) did a great job, getting a nice play on the ball. Just didn’t go our way.”

“We had one play at the end that bailed us out,” LL-H coach Brett Gervais said. “Danny Mikus, that just him making a play.”

Ironwood started the following drive on its own 36. They moved the ball very well and marched into LL-H territory, but a hold pushed them back to the Lakes’ 36. It was first and 20 with 2:45 left and the Devils’ drive stalled with passes not working and the Lakes getting a sack on fourth and long.

“We did well driving, we got 40 or 50 yards driving, and then got a holding penalty that holds it back,” Lane said. “We just weren’t able to overcome it. I wasn’t happy with how I called the plays after the holding penalty. I thought looking back, we should have ran it a few times, or even tried on first down. I just panicked when it was first and 20, knowing we needed that, we just threw it up a couple times. I wish I wouldn’t have panicked as much there either, can’t put it on the kids by any means.”

There were a lot of bright spots.

Madden Sommer led Ironwood with 11 tackles (eight solo), a tackle for a loss and a forced fumble. Eli Ruotsala had nine tackles (seven solo) with a tackle for a loss. McCullough had 11 tackles (six solo). Alec Huotari had seven (five solo) and Oja finished with five tackles (four solo), one for a loss and an interception.

“I thought by far our best game of tackling, wrapping up and gang tackling and it shows in our defensive stats,” Lane said.

McCullough led the Devils with another nice game running the ball with 132 yards on 30 carries. 

The Devils were outrushed overall, though, 228-145.

“I think by and large up front the guys got the job offensively and we stuck with that,” Gervais said.

The Lakes improved to 3-5 on the season. 

“We were able to do just enough in the end to pull out a win. I’m proud of the guys for sticking with it,” Gervais said. “It’s been a long year of learning and getting better and giving the three seniors that we have something to go out on a positive note. We’re just happy to get a win.”

Ironwood hopes to end its season on a high note.

The Devils (2-6) have won all three meetings over the Miners since they both became 8-player teams in 2021, including a 34-30 thriller last year.

The Miners come into the game with a 4-4 record with hopes of getting their first win in the new-look series.

“Gogebic’s been impressive this year, no doubt. They’ve continued to get better, continue to improve throughout the season,” Lane said. “It’s a tough task for sure, one that I think our guys are going to be up and ready for. We always get up and ready, get fired up, our kids do for this game, just as they do as well.”

The Devils will have to worry about quarterback Bode Lynott, who has had a great season at the quarterback position for the Miners.

“We got to contain Bode Lynott,” Lane said. “Just from the film I’ve watched and the games I’ve been to, he does a great job making good decisions. If he’s got to keep it and run, he does that; if there’s an open receiver, he will throw it there as well. Just a tough kid for sure.”

LL-H  0  8  0  8 — 16

Ironwood  6  0  8  0 — 14

First Quarter

Iwd — Brendan McCullough 4 run (run failed), 9:55

Second Quarter

LL-H — Nate St. Onge 4 run (St. Onge run), 3:09

Third Quarter

Iwd — McCullough 7 run (McCullough run), 2:09

Fourth Quarter

LL-H — Josh Daavettila 1 run (St. Onge run), 6:54

LL-H Iwd

First downs  15  12

Rushes-yards  47-228  33-145

Comp-Att-Int  2-6-1  1-8-1

Passing  39  29

Total yards  267  174 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — LL-H, Nate St. Onge 24-122, Josh Daavettila 5-29, Brady Axford 18-77. Ironwood, Brendan McCullough 30-132, Landon Buerger 1-13, Evan Oja 2-0.

PASSING — LL-H, Brady Axford, 2-6-39-1. Ironwood, Brendan McCullough, 1-8-29-1.

RECEIVING — LL-H, Danny Mikus 1-29, Josh Daavettila 1-10.