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MARQUETTE — Halloween is reserved as a day for tricks and treats, and heading into the kickoff for Saturday’s MHSAA Division 3 playoff game, it was hard to predict which one the Marquette Redmen would receive.

With a powerful wind blowing throughout, the conditions could’ve been tricky for the potent Redmen offense. Instead, it was all treats for Marquette as it forced six turnovers and lit up the Muskegon Reeths-Puffer defense for a 38-0 victory.

This was the Redmen’s first playoff win since 2010 and sets up a second-round matchup at Mount Pleasant this weekend. A game time hadn’t been officially announced by the MHSAA as of Sunday evening.

Marquette quarterback Austin Ridl, right, celebrates with Kam Karp near the end zone after Ridl ran for a 5-yard touchdown during the third quarter of the Redmen's MHSAA Division 3 high school playoff game against Muskegon Reeths-Puffer on Saturday at the William R. Hart Stadium in Marquette. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

The wind affected Marquette’s game plan Saturday, but not as much as head coach Eric Mason thought it might.

“This was crazy,” he said. “It’s windy, that’s just an understatement. It did (change things) a little bit, but in warmups, (MSHS quarterback) Austin (Ridl) was throwing the ball well.

“Obviously, some of the deep throws and whatnot are going to be affected, but … all in all, it didn’t change it much.

“The biggest thing was the kids’ attitude and their effort. This is the first time we’ve won a game at home in the playoffs and I stressed that to them all week. I said ‘This year has been a first for a lot of things and let’s go get it done.’ And they did.”

The Redmen had only played one other home playoff game, that coming in 2010, a week after their 63-22 win at Bay City John Glenn when they lost to Cadillac 28-0.

On Saturday, MSHS got on the scoreboard late in the first quarter. After stopping a fourth-down try by the Rockets, who struggled to blast off all game, Marquette’s Desmond Mullen broke free up the middle for a 49-yard touchdown run and a 6-0 lead.

It didn’t take long for the Redmen to find the end zone again. After Ethan Richards picked off a Reeths-Puffer pass, Marquette put together a good drive and capped it off just seconds into the second quarter on 15-yard TD pass from Ridl to Ty Lotterman. The kick missed again and Marquette led 12-0.

Then things really started going the Redmen’s way. On their next possession, Ridl somehow completed a pass to David Eberhard over the outstretched hands of a Rockets defensive back. With the ball now in Reeths-Puffer territory, the Redmen continued marching and finished the drive with a 1-yard scoring run by Mullen.

Shortly after that, Marquette struck again, this time on special teams. The Redmen blocked a Rockets punt attempt and Wyatt Kuhlman scooped up the loose ball for a touchdown.

Now leading 24-0, Marquette started to pile it on. The Redmen recovered a fumble on the ensuing MRP possession, and six plays later Ridl hooked up with a wide-open Eberhard for a 13-yard TD pass over the middle and into the end zone. This time, Marquette kicker Connor Johnson drilled the extra-point attempt through the wind and the Redmen led 31-0 at the half.

The Redmen intercepted passes on the Rockets’ first two possessions of the third quarter and the Redmen used the second one to help them the score again. Shortly after picking off an MRP pass, Marquette finished off its scoring with a 5-yard TD run by Ridl and an extra point by Johnson.

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