Iron Mountain’s Joe Dumais rushes against Pewamo-Westphalia on Friday night during their MHSAA Division 7 semifinal playoff game at the Superior Dome in Marquette. (Journal photo by Amy Grigas)

MARQUETTE — In high school athletics, it’s always a tough when a season ends, because it draws out emotion of the young men or women. Friday night at the Superior Dome at Northern Michigan University, the Iron Mountain Mountaineers season came to an end, being defeated 43-7 by the Pewamo-Westphalia Pirates.

Both teams came in to the matchup undefeated at 12-0, so expectations were high for both teams, being on the doorstep of advancing to the state championship game at Ford Field next Saturday.

The Mountaineers received the opening kickoff, four plays, 66 yards and 1:33 later, they led 7-0 on a 5-yard touchdown run from quarterback Marcus Johnson. Less than three minuets later, P-W got on the scoreboard after a six play, 71 yard drive to tie the score at 7-7.

The offensive and defensive lines of the Pirates are massive from one side to the other. As the game went on, they wore down the Mountaineers on both sides of the ball.

“They’re a really good football team, they’re big and fast and physical,” said IM head coach Robin Marttila. “It was tough sledding for us out there for most of the night. We had some mistakes, and couldn’t convert some plays at key times. All in all, we had no answer for their size and their ability to run the football.”

Late in the first half, the Mountaineer defense forced a Pirates three-and-out, and P-W punter Tanner Wirth attempted to run for the first down on a fake punt. IM’s Caleb Burklund made a great play running the punter down and knocking him out of bounds short of the first down marker. P-W led 21-7 at halftime.

The third quarter started with the Pirates receiving the opening kickoff, two play later P-W’s Ethan Thelen fumbled and it was recovered by Gavin Goulette of the Mountaineers.

“We came out very sloppy, we have to execute better next week in the finals. They’re (IM) a good football team up front, we were able to get to their second level and move the ball down field,” said P-W head coach Jeremy Miller.

“We relied on our defense to make plays tonight and the did that. I am happy for our kids that we reached Ford Field.” said Miller.

Marttila was proud of his team for the 12-1 record on the season, as well as their effort on the night. “Our 11 seniors gave it all they had tonight and all season long. We suited up 28 kids tonight and they’re all walking off the field healthy,” said Martilla.

IM ended the game with 118 total yards, though they had 185 yards in the passing department. The ground attack netted minus-67 yards on 29 attempts, however most of those negative yards came in the six sacks of Johnson.

P-W totaled 436 total yards, 313 rushing and 123 through the air.