“We’re just happy to be back out here playing together.” — Paul Jacobson, head coach, Negaunee Miners football

—————

NEGAUNEE — After an offseason where high school football teams all around the Upper Peninsula wondered whether they would even get to play this fall, almost all of them got to strap on their helmets under the lights Friday night.

Expectations were high for the Negaunee Miners heading into the season and they definitely did their part to live up to them in a 39-8 victory over Manistique.

“We’re just happy to be back on the field,” Miners head coach Paul Jacobson said. “I know Todd, coach Kangas, has a young team, but we’re just happy to be back out here playing together. These guys put a lot of work in and a lot of effort, and it paid off tonight.”

Negaunee got on the scoreboard on their opening possession, using their rushing game to pound the ball downfield. After picking up a 27-yard run earlier in the drive, Nash Hillier capped it off with a 5-yard touchdown. Philip Nelson then drilled the extra point to make the score 7-0.

The Miners also scored on their next possession, this time on a 7-yard run by Lukas Nelson, but the kick failed and Negaunee padded its lead to 13-0 at the end of the first quarter.

After stopping the Emeralds on fourth down, Negaunee took over on its 47 and four plays later, the Miners were in the end zone as quarterback Will Luke found Eli Luokkala for a 27-yard touchdown. The conversion failed though and it was now 19-0 Miners.

Negaunee blew the game open just a few plays later. The Miners forced Manistique to punt and Philip Nelson returned it 45 yards to the house to make their advantage 25-0 with 9:29 remaining in the first half.

Late in the second quarter, the Miners found the end zone again as Luke heaved a 51-yard touchdown pass to Lukas Nelson. This time, Philip Nelson made the extra point and it was 32-0 Negaunee at the half.

On their first possession of the second half, the Miners put the game away on a 42-yard run by Hillier and with the extra point, it was now 39-0 and the clock was running. Negaunee finished with 178 rushing yards.

“We had good solid running with Lukas and Nash, but up front, you’ve got (Preston) Toutant, Bode Bonovetz, Finn Helppi, Braydon Oglesby and Bryce Dunstan, they really came off the ball hard tonight and blocked well for us,” Jacobson said. “Also, Parker Cain and Eli on the edge. It was a team effort tonight.”

The Emeralds did get on the board when Wyatt Gierke scrambled left and threw a short touchdown pass. Manistique also picked up the conversion to complete the game’s scoring.

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.