MAPLE CITY — Glen Lake football knocked off Mancelona 35-0 in a district playoff game Friday to advance to a Division 8 district final against East Jordan.
“The biggest thing is we get to practice another week … we get to be together, players and coaches, you’ve got to earn these weeks,” Glen Lake coach Jesse Smith said. “We brought our JV team up, and they stepped in as scout team, and some of the guys even stepped in in spots and played some tonight. So all around, the players and coaches, everybody just stepped it up this week, and I can’t be more proud of them.”
Glen Lake scored first, off a senior Fletcher Middleton rushing touchdown at the goal line, to start a career three-touchdown night.
On the next possession, the Lakers forced a punt deep in Ironmen territory, which resulted in a Mancelona recovery and another shot.
A halfback pass from Mancelona fell just short on a fourth-down conversion attempt in the Glen Lake red zone, giving the Lakers an opportunity for a sustained drive.
Middleton had a 20-yard run to break into Mancelona territory, which eventually resulted in another Middleton goal-line touchdown run to give the Lakers a 14-0 lead.
Mancelona would get the wheels turning late in the second quarter, driving all the way down to the Glen Lake 5-yard line.
On fourth down, Mancelona quarterback Ryan Naumcheff almost reached the endzone, but was stopped by Glen Lake’s Dominic Stein as time ran out in the first half.
From then on out, it was all Glen Lake as the Lakers scored 21 unanswered in the second half to win 35-0.
Glen Lake defeated Mancelona 23-22 last week with a game-winning field goal to end the regular season.
In the third quarter, Sam Dykstra had a 31-yard touchdown run. Middleton and junior quarterback Parker Robinson had 55-yard and 27-yard touchdown runs, respectively.
Dykstra ended the game with 119 yards on 10 carries, while Middleton had 11 carries for 108 yards. Robinson tacked on 63 yards and Ben Diotte had 22 yards.
Stein had 6.5 total tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss, along with Middleton’s seven tackles and Caden Sheehan’s seven tackles, two for a loss. Liam Palmer picked off a pass.
Naumcheff had 35 passing yards and 43 rushing yards. Jackson Bennett also had 61 yards on the ground, and Jayden Lanning ran for 32 yards. Naumcheff led defensively with 5.5 tackles. Gabe Weeks forced a fumble for the Ironmen.
FOOTBALL
Gaylord 38
Marquette 34
The Blue Devils scored with seconds left to win to stay alive in the playoffs.
UP NEXT: The Blue Devils (10-0) travel to Mount Pleasant (10-0) Friday, 7 p.m.
McBain 28
Charlevoix 27
The Rayders scored with under 20 seconds left, but don’t convert the two-point conversion.
McBain: Trenton Brunink 2 TD runs; Lakai Campbell TD run.
Charlevoix: Colin Jess 2 TD passes to Carter Greenacre, TD pass to Garrison Sterrett; Ian Moran 16-yard rush TD.
UP NEXT: The Rayders end the season with an 8-2 record, and McBain (8-2) heads to the district finals against Menominee Friday at 7 p.m.
Menominee 48
Manton 14
UP NEXT: The Rangers finished the season with a 6-4 overall record.
Pickford 30
Inland Lakes 26
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs finished its regular season with a 9-1 record.
Gaylord SM 84
Mio 48
Gaylord St. Mary: Logan Greenier 389 rushing yards, 7 TDs, 5 2-point conversions; St. Mary 725 total yards, 80 pass yards; Nathan O’Connell 24 carries, 224 yards, 2 TDs, including a 90-yarder, 8-8 passing, 80 yards, pass TD; Snowbirds scored 84 points in first 3 quarters.
UP NEXT: The Snowbirds (8-2) square off Friday against Onekama.
Onekama 42
Hillman 14
Onekama: Tyler Hart 118 rush yards, 44 receiving yards, 3 TDs; Bennett Zeller 73 rush yards, TD; Chase Gauthier 52 rush yards; Luke Bradford 3 catches, 80 yards, 2 TD; Ryan Hrachovina 8 tackles; Brandon Brindle 8.5 tackles.
UP NEXT: The Portagers (10-0) play Gaylord St. Mary next Friday in a regional game.