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Westwood, Marquette, Munising all victorious on football field on Friday night

ISHPEMING — Since the World Series is ready to start on Tuesday night, it’s easy to say that Westwood “pitched” a second-half shutout to pull away from Negaunee after a close first half in the Patriots’ 32-14 high school football victory on Friday night.

Leading just 18-14 at halftime, Westwood didn’t allow another point while getting a pair of touchdowns, including one by its defense, in the second half.

Top running back Zach Carlson accounted for four TDs — two on the ground, one as a passer and another while playing defense.

The defensive TD came in the fourth quarter when Miners’ quarterback Gerald Johnson tried a pass around the Pats’ 32-yard line that fell incomplete, but because it was ruled a backward pass, it was considered a fumble and Carlson scooped it up and ran an estimated 48 yards for the score.

Carlson opened the scoring with a 28-yard rushing TD for the only points of the first quarter before QB Zach Beckman threw a 20-yard scoring pass to Marcus Boase to make it 12-0 early in the second quarter.

Negaunee got back within 12-7 when Johnson completed a 70-yard TD pass to Phil Nelson and Nelson kicked the extra point.

Westwood made it a two-score game again when Carlson ran in a TD, this time from 46 yards, making it 18-7.

But the Miners once more narrowed the margin to just four points before halftime when Johnson ran in from a yard out and Nelson booted another PAT.

That’s all Negaunee would get as Westwood extended its lead in the third quarter on a running-back pass when Carlson completed a 30-yard scoring throw to Garrett Sundberg.

Carlson not only accounted for four TDs, he was the top running back and had some pretty good passing numbers, too. He rushed for 188 yards on 26 carries while completing 2 of 2 passes for 60 yards.

Beckman completed 5 of 7 passes for 122 yards and an interception as Boase made five catches for 131 yards.

Johnson led Negaunee’s offense, completing 4 of 10 passes for 119 yards and an interception, then ran for 78 yards on 10 attempts.

Teammate Nico Lukkarinen rushed for an additional 51 yards on 11 carries.

As he has done all season, Nelson was the Miners’ leading receiver, catching three passes for 110 yards.

Overall, Westwood held a 377-272 advantage in total yards. The Patriots held a 195-153 edge on the ground and 182-119 advantage through the air.

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Marquette 17, Petoskey 14

On Friday at Petoskey, the Redmen ended any doubt about their entry into the Division 3 playoffs by improving to 7-2 and doing it against a fellow Division 3 opponent.

The Redmen opened the scoring with a 1-yard TD run by Desmond Mullen at the end of the first quarter before the Northmen tied it 7-7 early in the second on a 3-yard scoring throw from Joe McCarthy to Gavin Wargel.

Marquette made an important field goal near the midpoint of the second when Ryland Kohler connected on a 32-yarder. It stayed 10-7 MSHS at halftime.

The teams traded back-to-back interceptions, but no scoring, over much of the second half, according to an account by the Petoskey News-Review.

The Redmen opened a 17-7 lead with just over four minutes remaining on a 4-yard TD scamper by Marquette QB Austin Ridl, but Petoskey was able to answer with 41 seconds left when McCarthy connected on a TD pass, this time to Parker Shuman.

MSHS then recovered the ensuing onside kick to put an end to the contest.

Marquette held a 312-243 advantage in total yards, according to statistics provided by Redmen head coach Eric Mason.

Ridl completed 14 of 26 passes for 142 yards and an interception, as Petoskey’s McCarthy was good on 17 of 35 passes for 180 yards an also an interception.

Marquette’s top receiver was Justin Jurmu with five catches for 54 yards, while David Eberhard snagged a pair of catches for 47 yards.

Rushing-wise, Mullen gained 136 yards on 25 attempts with his TD.

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Munising 52, Brimley 30

On Friday at Brimley, junior Josiah Peramaki led the Mustangs’ high-powered offense, gaining 264 yards rushing on just 13 carries as he scored four first-half touchdowns on runs of 50, 64, 62 and 52 yards.

The win clinched the outright title of the East Division of the Great Lakes Conference as Munising finished 6-1 there and 7-2 overall.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.

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