Express rollercoaster
Marquette takes latest up-and-down trip to the top, beating Gladstone 21-14

Marquette senior wide receiver Adam Jenshak, right, pulls in a one-handed catch on the edge of the end zone over Gladstone's Zach Hanson in the third quarter of their Great Northern Conference game played at William R. Hart Stadium in Marquette on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018. The play was ruled out of bounds by the referee. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)
By RYAN SPITZA
Journal Sports Writer
MARQUETTE — It’s been quite the rollercoaster ride for the Marquette Senior High School football team this season.
The Redmen’s last three games have been decided by one, one and three points, including being stopped shy of the goal line as time expired last week against Lakeland Union High School in Minocqua, Wisconsin.
On Friday, MSHS topped Gladstone by seven points, a 21-14 victory to keep its slim playoff hopes alive and earn a share of the Great Northern Conference crown for the first time in seven years.
The Redmen are 4-4 while the Braves dropped to 3-5. MSHS is also 3-0 in the GNC.
For head coach Dave L’Huillier on the final home game of the regular season, it was a big senior night win for his team. Earning a share of the GNC title was a big moment for those seniors who stepped on the William R. Hart Stadium turf for the final time Friday.
“Every single game has come down to the last possession,” L’Huillier said. “It’s great, though. Great for the kids, great for the crowd, great for the program. It’s a huge win for us, the first time we’ve been GNC champs since 2011. Hopefully we can take care of it and finish it all for ourselves next week.”
L’Huillier added his kids hardly break a sweat in tight matchups.
“Our kids don’t panic, we always try to make the big plays and things came out in our favor again,” the coach said. “We had big plays on both sides, offense and defense both did a great job.”
Gladstone head coach Jeff Hansen said his team played well, but turnovers hurt his team in the end.
“There were several bright spots and we certainly played far more good football than bad,” he said. “It went wire-to-wire and it was a heck of a football game. There was a lot of hard hitting and I definitely think we played very physical football.
“The defense stood tall and kept us in it throughout the game; we made some big plays on offense and blocked a couple of kicks, too.
“We turned the ball over and that ratio will get you in a tight football game like this, but we showed a lot of fight the whole time. We acquitted ourselves really well with how we played (tonight).”
Hansen added he was proud of his players for playing a full 48 minutes.
“I was very happy with the effort throughout,” he said. “All three phases of the game (offense, defense, special teams), we were really playing hard for three quarters. Hats off to Marquette, they’re a really good football team and they got the win.”
A defensive first quarter which included an interception from Marquette defensive back Dylan Goodwin left both teams off the scoreboard through 12 minutes.
MSHS scored first in the second quarter when senior quarterback Brendan Kaski found fellow senior receiver Ethan Martysz in the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown pass. The extra-point attempt from junior Drew Wyble was blocked, making it 6-0 Redmen, which held as the halftime score.
Gladstone started the third quarter with the ball, but senior quarterback Jared Crow was picked off for the second time of the night, this time by senior Bryce Brazeau.
On the first play after the interception, Kaski threw a lateral to Brazeau, who then tossed it to a wide-open Robert Apple for a 39-yard touchdown completion. MSHS converted the 2-point attempt on a pass from Kaski to senior Alex Cannoot to go up 14-0.
The Braves got that touchdown right back, however. On the first play after the Marquette kickoff, Crow found senior receiver Vince Hughes deep over the middle for a 62-yard TD connection. CJ Charlebois’ extra point made it a 14-7 game with 9:30 to go in the third.
The fourth quarter started with the teams trading turnovers. On the first play of the quarter, Crow was picked off once again, this time by senior Adam Jenshak making it 1st-and-10 Redmen from the Braves’ 16.
Three plays later, Kaski was picked off by junior Caden Alworden, setting up 1st-and-10 on the MSHS 25.
On the next play, senior running back Brody Sanville took the ball 25 yards to the end zone and the extra point tied the game at 14-14 with 9:47 to go.
The most critical point of the game came late in the quarter. With Marquette 2nd-and-4 from the Gladstone 11, Apple fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Braves at their own 6.
Three plays later and just over three minutes of play, Crow was intercepted for the fourth time, this time on a batted ball by Brazeau which was picked off by senior linebacker Beau Zorza. That set up 1st-and-goal from the Braves 9.
The Redmen capitalized, and with 1:49 left on the clock, sophomore running back Brady Wright ran it in on 2nd-and-goal from the six, putting MSHS up 21-14.
With one last chance for the Braves, Marquette stopped them in four plays to all but wrap things up.
Zorza credited Brazeau for putting pressure on the quarterback to set up the interception.
“The ball got batted down by Bryce (Brazeau) and I was able to get under it and secure it,” he said. “It’s a bummer I didn’t get in because I stumbled, but either way the team played phenomenal.”
Zorza added he couldn’t have imagined a better game for his final one at home, with a share of the GNC title to boot.
“We stuck in there,” he said. “We always do. We play as a team and we play as a family. That’s always how it’s been.
“I have a favorite saying. Forty-eight minutes for the next 48 years of your life. In 48 years, I’m going to remember this.”
Marquette had 16 first downs to Gladstone’s five. The teams had a combined six turnovers, four for the Braves and two for the Redmen.
Kaski went 11 of 19 passing for Marquette for 81 yards and one touchdown. Wright led the way on the ground with 91 yards while Martysz picked up five catches for 51 yards receiving.
Crow went 3 of 13 for Gladstone for 77 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. Sanville had 114 yards rushing for the Braves.
Marquette looks to win the GNC crown outright when it visits Menominee (1-7) Friday. Gladstone travels to Lake Linden-Hubbell (1-6) Saturday.
Email Ryan Spitza at sports@miningjournal.net.